News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/19th July 2024
A significant disruption in Microsoft Corp.’s cloud services on Friday caused widespread service interruptions affecting numerous businesses worldwide, including in India. The outage has notably impacted several airlines such as Indigo, Akasa Air, Air India Express, and SpiceJet, leading to technical glitches that hindered services like ticket booking and web check-in.
Airlines around the globe and various banks also reported being affected by this outage. While the precise cause remains unclear, many of the disruptions have been linked to issues with Microsoft’s PC operating systems.
Microsoft addressed the situation with an official update on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We’re investigating an issue impacting users’ ability to access various Microsoft 365 apps and services.” Reports from Reuters indicated that the London Stock Exchange was among those experiencing outages.
Microsoft’s status pages highlighted ongoing issues with Azure cloud and Microsoft 365 services, particularly in the central US region. The tech giant stated, “We are aware of this issue and have engaged multiple teams. We’ve determined the underlying cause and are currently applying mitigation. Customers should see signs of recovery at this time as mitigation applies across resources in the region.”
Indigo acknowledged that its systems across the network were affected by the Microsoft Azure issue, resulting in longer wait times at contact centers and airports. The airline noted, “You may experience slower check-ins and longer queues… Our digital team is also coordinating closely with Microsoft Azure to resolve these issues swiftly.”
Akasa Air informed passengers that its online services, including booking, check-in, and manage booking services, were temporarily unavailable. The airline advised, “Currently we are following manual check-in and boarding processes at the airports and hence request passengers with immediate travel plans to reach the airport early to check-in at our counters.”
Air India Express also reported that the outage had impacted its airport operations globally, along with multiple airlines and airports. The airline urged travelers to plan their journeys with ample time for airport procedures, stating, “Digital infrastructure issues have temporarily impacted online and airport operations across multiple airlines and airports globally. We regret the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.”
SpiceJet confirmed technical difficulties in providing updates on flight disruptions, with their team actively working to resolve the issue. The airline expressed, “We regret any inconvenience caused and will update you once the issue is resolved. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.”
The outage not only affected the aviation sector but also had broader implications for various industries relying on Microsoft’s cloud services. As businesses scrambled to manage the fallout, the incident underscored the critical dependence on cloud infrastructure and the far-reaching impacts of such disruptions.
As Microsoft continues to apply mitigation measures, businesses and consumers worldwide are eagerly awaiting a return to normalcy. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in our digital infrastructure and the need for robust contingency plans to handle such unprecedented disruptions.
