Warning over delays at NI airports as global IT glitch wreaks havoc
Passengers are being advised to check the status of their flights with some cancellations possible
Last updated 19th Jul 2024
Flights at Northern Ireland's two airports were among those impacted across the UK today (Friday) after a global IT outage caused chaos.
The glitch has been wreaking havoc across the world - affecting broadcasting output including Sky News, UK rail networks, banks and supermarkets.
In Northern Ireland, that has resulted in potential delays for passenger flight departures and arrivals.
In a statement, Belfast International Airport warned passengers that while its flights remained "operational" there would be longer waiting times and possible delays or even cancellations..
A spokesperson said: "A global IT system outage is impacting the airport alongside many other businesses, but flights remain operational.
"Our IT teams are working hard to resolve the issue but there are longer wait times than usual at the airport and we thank passengers for their patience while the issue is resolved.”
And the spokesperson added: "The airport is part of a global aviation network that is still experiencing disruption so delays and cancellations can be expected as the day goes on. Passengers should continue to check with their airline for the latest updates and before travelling to the airport.”
Meanwhile at the George Best Belfast City Airport, a spokesperson said there was "potential for delays and she urged passengers to check their flights: "“Whilst flight operations from Belfast City Airport have not been directly affected, there will be disruption across global networks and passengers are therefore advised to check the status of their flights.”
Earlier, Ryanair warned of "potential disruptions across the network" due to a global third party system outage.
On the airline's website, it posted: "Potential disruptions across the network (Fri 19 July) due to a global 3rd party system outage.
"Affected passengers will be notified and any passengers travelling across the network on Fri 19 July should check their Ryanair app for the latest updates on their flight.
"We advise passengers to arrive at the airport three hours in advance of their flight to avoid any disruptions.
"We regret any inconvenience caused to passengers by this 3rd party IT issue, which is outside of Ryanair's control and affects all airlines operating across the network."
Meanwhile, it is not yet know whether any delays could spill into the weekend.