Irish airline Aer Lingus has apologised to prospects after a significant technical failure meant it needed to cancel flights to and from Dublin Airport involving UK or European locations after 2pm.
Footage on social media confirmed hundreds of individuals queueing exterior Terminal 2 on the airport after digital techniques failed.
The airline stated that prospects affected by the disruption will be capable of change their journey plans freed from cost.
Aer Lingus additionally stated it was endeavouring to function some flights that have been initially scheduled to depart earlier than 2pm however added “as we're counting on guide course of for these flights, there stays a threat of cancellation”.
An preliminary assertion stated: “As a result of a significant incident with a community supplier, our cloud-based techniques enabling check-in, boarding and our web site are at the moment unavailable.
“A UK community supplier servicing the cloud-based system has skilled a significant break in connectivity impacting each main and secondary connectivity.
“At the moment the supplier has not been capable of give Aer Lingus an estimate of the time when the break in connectivity shall be restored.
“Sadly, that is inflicting extreme disruption to Aer Lingus providers right this moment.
“Consequently, all flights initially scheduled to depart from Dublin Airport for European and United Kingdom locations from 2pm onwards right this moment have needed to be cancelled.”
The airline later added that flights scheduled to depart to Dublin Airport from Europe from 2pm onwards right this moment have additionally needed to be cancelled, except for flights from Portugal and Spain, which it stated it deliberate to function, albeit with delays.
It stated flights initially scheduled to depart to Dublin from the UK from 2pm onwards have been cancelled and flights to and from the Aer Lingus bases in Cork, Shannon and Belfast are deliberate to function, albeit with delays and threat of short-notice cancellations.
It added that Aer Lingus regional flights (operated by Emerald Airways) are at the moment deliberate to function right this moment, albeit with delays and threat of short-notice cancellations.
The airline stated it was unable to speak straight with prospects however requested them to not journey to Dublin airport.
We sincerely apologise to all prospects impacted by right this moment’s disruption and cancellationsAer Lingus
The airline stated: “We sincerely apologise to all prospects impacted by right this moment’s disruption and cancellations.
“Any buyer impacted by right this moment’s disruptions will be capable of change their journey plans, freed from cost both by means of our name centre or social media channels.
“We are going to advise prospects when IT techniques are restored and this modification possibility is absolutely accessible to our prospects.
“As quickly as techniques are restored our groups will work to re-accommodate these impacted as effectively as potential, and share info relating to prospects’ rights and the airways’ obligations.
“We're working intensively with our system companions and their community companions to resolve the connection points as quickly as potential.”
In a tweet, Dublin Airport stated impacted passengers ought to contact the airline straight about subsequent steps.
The airport additionally stated that no different airways are affected.
Prospects reported lengthy queues on the airport on Saturday as Aer Lingus test in for earlier flights was being dealt with manually.
Lisa Webb from Which? stated: “Aer Lingus’ sudden cancellations of flights to and from the UK and Europe will trigger hundreds of passengers misery and nervousness in the case of their journey plans.
“In occasions comparable to these, airways needs to be providing the choice of a refund or to reroute passengers on any cheap route as shortly as potential, utilizing different airways the place essential.
“Aer Lingus should additionally give clear info to affected prospects about their entitlement to compensation.”