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Spain airport IT crash: How to check your flight status and get compensation
A Microsoft glitch has caused disruptions to flights and other tech in Spain and around the world
A computer glitch caused by a Microsoft Windows CrowdStrike update has caused significant disruptions in the Spanish airport network this Friday morning. As a result, travellers may experience delays and changes to their journeys.
Spain airport manager Aena reported the issue this morning, saying “Alterations are occurring in Aena’s systems and in the airports of the network in Spain, which could cause delays.”
The systems most affected include check-in areas and passenger information points. Aena has assured passengers that they are “working to solve it as soon as possible” and that some systems are already being lifted as a contingency. Some operations are being handled manually but Aena says they have “reestablished their main systems” already.
How to check your flight status
Aena provides a flight information service that allows users to check the status of their flights in real-time. Just enter your flight details to see if there are any delays or changes anywhere between from 2 hours before and 14 days after the scheduled flight time.
Can I claim compensation for a delayed flight?
Travellers whose flights are delayed by more than 5 hours are entitled to a reimbursement of the cost of their ticket. In some cases, they can also claim compensation.
The consumer rights watchdog FACUA-Consumers in Action advises that if airlines do not offer a refund, passengers have the right to claim one.
In the event of a long delay, travellers are entitled to be provided food, drinks, access to communication, accommodation and transport to and from that accommodation.
This is stipulated in Article 14 of the European Regulation 261/2004, which states that airlines must provide a form indicating the rules on compensation and assistance to each affected passenger.
Affected airlines and flights
Internationally, airports such as London Heathrow, London Luton, London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, London Stansted and Berlin have also been affected.
The worst affected airlines include Ryanair, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, Virgin Australia, SpiceJet, Akasa Air and WizzAir. These airlines, along with Aena, have communicated the incident on their social media channels.
Microsoft’s response
Microsoft Azure has acknowledged the issue on social media, stating that it is investigating and working to resolve the problems.
“Our services are improving as we continue to take steps to fix it,” the cloud computing platform explained.
The airline industry is not the only sector affected by Microsoft’s global failure. Companies operating in Spain such as Kutxabank, Repsol, Mercedes Vitoria, BBVA, Correos, Movistar, Amazon and Google have also reported problems with their computer systems.
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