Microsoft outage: 192 IndiGo Flights Cancelled

IndiGo Airlines has been forced to cancel 192 flights due to a widespread outage at Microsoft, impacting the airline’s operational systems. The outage has rendered the refund and rebooking options temporarily unavailable, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and frustrated.

The issue began early this morning when Microsoft, a critical technology partner for IndiGo, experienced a major outage affecting several of its services globally. IndiGo relies heavily on Microsoft’s systems for its booking and customer service operations. As a result, passengers cannot access the airline’s website and mobile app to manage their bookings, seek refunds, or rebook their flights.

A spokesperson for IndiGo stated, “We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers. Our teams are working around the clock with Microsoft to restore services as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we request passengers to remain patient and check for updates through our social media channels.”

Passengers at major airports across India, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, have reported long queues and confusion at IndiGo counters. Many travellers have expressed frustration over the lack of communication and assistance from the airline staff, who are equally overwhelmed by the situation.

Rahul Verma, a passenger stranded at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, shared his frustration, “I’ve been waiting for over five hours with no clear information on what to do next. It’s a complete mess. The least they could do is keep us informed.”

IndiGo has advised passengers with urgent travel needs to contact their helpline numbers, although many report difficulties getting through due to high call volumes. The airline has also assured customers that all affected passengers will be offered refunds or the option to rebook their flights once the systems are back online.

This incident underscores the vulnerability of airline operations to technology disruptions and highlights the need for robust contingency plans. As the aviation industry becomes increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, the ripple effects of such outages can be far-reaching and significant.

Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and stated, “We are aware of a major outage affecting several services and are working to restore functionality as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience caused.”

IndiGo is India’s largest airline by market share and operates over 1,500 flights daily. The cancellation of 192 flights represents a significant operational hiccup for the airline, and the immediate priority remains assisting affected passengers and to resume normal operations.