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The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is preparing for more passengers waiting at airports due to a global IT outage affecting airline operations
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Congestion at Davao International Airport has been reported caused by delays in Cebu Pacific aircraft and two flight cancellations
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Flights were also delayed at Bicol International Airport
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Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines are handling affected processes manually, causing delays and long queues in Terminal 3
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is preparing for the increase in passengers waiting at airports due to a global IT outage affecting airline operations.
The outage, triggered by a faulty update from Microsoft cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike on July 19, is disrupting operations of multiple industries, including banks, train companies, telecommunications companies, broadcasters and supermarkets.
CAAP in a statement said its Area Center 11 reported congestion at Davao International Airport caused by delays in Cebu Pacific aircraft and two flight cancellations.
In Bicol International Airport, four flights were also reported delayed. These are:
- Cebgo DG6195/6196 (MNL-DRP-MNL) due to Microsoft issue
- Cebgo DG6197/6198 (MNL-DRP-MNL) due to Microsoft issue
- PAL PR2927/2928 (CEB-DRP-CEB) due to late arrival of turn around aircraft
- PAL 2919/2920 (MNL-DRP-MNL) due to further aircraft maintenance
CAAP said it is activating irregular operations protocols and closely coordinating with airlines, PNP Aviation Security Group, and Office for Transportation Security. Additionally, personnel are adding more seating for passengers, personnel at the Malasakit Help desk and medical teams are on standby in the departure area.
Earlier, the Manila International Airport Authority said it was monitoring the situation affecting operations of Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Both airlines are handling affected processes manually, causing delays and long queues in Terminal 3.
As of 4:00 pm of July 19, international carriers at NAIA remain unaffected, the airport authority said in an advisory.
CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said the company has identified the update that crashed Windows systems around the globe and that “a fix has been deployed” but that this “could take some time.”
The issue is “not a security incident or cyberattack” but a “defect” in a “single content update for Windows hosts”, he said.
CrowdStrike’s “Falcon Sensor” software was allegedly causing Windows to crash and display a blue screen, according to an alert sent by the company to its clients and seen by the Reuters news agency.
