A major tech outage caused by a software update issued by CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm, led to worldwide travel disruption today. While flights have resumed, cancellations and delays are expected to linger.
Cirium, an aviation analytics company, reports that as of midday, about 5,117 flights have been canceled (of about 110,000 scheduled commercial flights today). In the U.S., 2,382 out of more than 27,000 scheduled flights (8.9%) have been canceled today.
These figures are continuing to grow, and Cirium predicts that today’s final cancellation figure will approach the disruption experienced on Dec. 23, 2022, when about 23% of U.S. flights were canceled.
The firm also shared that only 47% of flights have departed on time today.
How Travel Advisors Are Providing Value
In other words, “airports are a nightmare right now,” said Diana Castillo, owner of Integra Travel.
Castillo is one of countless travel advisors grappling with today’s tech failure and is warning her clients that the ripple effect of an I.T. shutdown like today’s is enormous.
This is unprecedented, but our experience with airlines worldwide helps our clientele set expectations correctly.
"We are advising our clients to not travel until next week, unless they really have to,” Castillo said. “If they must, we will help reroute, but there is a high probability of more delays and cancellations.”
Castillo is also reaching out to clients with information, including how to get a refund for flights affected by the complication.
“Clients are entitled to a full refund if they choose not to travel, as per the U.S. Department of Transportation,” she said.
Other advisors are showing their value by having their agency’s flight desks help clients with rerouting and other needs. Agents are also telling clients to “pack their patience,” and sharing other best practices for traveling right now.
“This is unprecedented, but our experience with airlines worldwide helps our clientele set expectations correctly,” Castillo said.
