Image Credits - The Economics Times
AirAsia has successfully resumed normal operations after recovering from a significant technology outage that disrupted its Departure Control Systems. This outage, which began on Friday, July 19, caused widespread flight delays and cancellations but did not stop the airline from managing to transport over 500,000 passengers on approximately 3,000 flights during this challenging period.
The airline reported that it managed to operate over 99% of its scheduled flights despite the disruption. On Monday, July 22, AirAsia issued a statement.
Bo Lingam, CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group, acknowledged the global impact of the IT outage but expressed pride in the airline’s ability to keep passengers moving safely. “The world was reeling from the impact of the global IT outage,” Lingam said. “Our passengers were able to continue on their journeys safely. We had the systems, people, and processes to switch to manual mode.” This switch to manual operations involved extensive efforts from the airline’s ground staff and hundreds of volunteers who worked tirelessly with airport authorities to manage the situation.
Lingam also extended his gratitude to the passengers for their patience and understanding during the disruption. He thanked various government bodies and organizations, including the Transport Ministry, the Civil Aviation Authority, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), the Immigration Department, the Customs Department, and all other relevant ministries and agencies, for their support and assistance during the crisis.
With its technology systems now fully restored, AirAsia is focused on returning to its high standards of operational efficiency. Lingam emphasized the airline’s commitment to achieving its previous on-time performance record, which had consistently been above 80%. This goal reflects AirAsia’s dedication to reliability and customer satisfaction.
As AirAsia continues to normalize its operations, the airline has advised passengers travelling in the upcoming days to stay informed about their flight statuses. Passengers are encouraged to check for updates via their registered email addresses, mobile phones, or directly through the AirAsia website at airasia.com/flightstatus.