EasyJet cancellations - live: ‘Systems failure’ sees 200 flights grounded

Thousands of easyJet passengers have had flights cancelled today in what is thought to be an airline-wide systems failure.

The Independent calculates that at least 200 flights have been grounded in the chaos, which easyJet is blaming on “IT systems issues”.

easyJet said late this afternoon that the problem had now been resolved but there “may still be subject to some disruption in the coming hours”.

A spokeswoman for the airline said: “We advise customers due to travel with us to continue to check Flight Tracker for the status of their flight before making their way to the airport.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused and customers can apply for compensation in line with regulations.”

easyJet cancels at least 200 Thursday flights

• easyJet cancels at least 200 Thursday flights

• Customers told it is a ‘systems failure'

• Airline refusing compensation, claiming ‘extraordinary circumstances’

What are your rights?

18:30 , Chris Baynes

Tens of thousands of easyJet passengers have had their flights cancelled because of a failure of the airline’s IT systems.

Fortunately, consumer law is firmly on passengers’ side in situations such as this.

Simon Calder explains all here:

What are my consumer rights if my flight is cancelled?

‘IT systems issues have now been rectified’: easyJet issues statement on cancellations

17:07 , Lucy Thackray

easyJet has issued a statement on this afternoon’s cancellations, saying that flights “may still be subject to some disruption in the coming hours” and confirming that customers can claim for appropriate compensation.

An easyJet spokesperson said: “easyJet can confirm that the earlier IT systems issues have now been rectified.

“Unfortunately, they resulted in some cancellations earlier today and while we expect to operate most of our remaining flying programme, some may still be subject to some disruption in the coming hours.

“We advise customers due to travel with us to continue to check Flight Tracker for the status of their flight before making their way to the airport.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused and customers can apply for compensation in line with regulations.”

‘We made it from Inverness to Gatwick this afternoon’

16:58 , Simon Calder

Amid today’s cancellations and delays, one easyJet passenger has celebrated arriving at the airline’s biggest base, London Gatwick, early - 15 minutes ahead of schedule, to be exact.

The traveller was on a flight from Inverness. Their aircraft had departed from Gatwick minutes before the IT systems failure grounded operations.

The plane turned around at Inverness as normal. It left a few minutes late, but made up time – and, with far fewer easyJet flights around at normally congested Gatwick, arrived ahead of schedule.

easyJet posts flight status link for customers

16:43 , Lucy Thackray

Nearly an hour and a half after the initial “IT systems issue”, easyJet has issued a Twitter statement apologising to customers.

“We apologise to all customers whose flights have been affected by IT system issues. You can check your flight status here,” the airline wrote in a social media post.

The post links to its flight tracker page, where you can search by flight number or departure and arrival point.

A tranche of Thursday evening flights from Gatwick and Manchester have now been cancelled, including tonight’s Gatwick-Hurghada flight and Manchester’s Milan Malpensa flight.

More flights cancelled into Thursday night

16:38 , Simon Calder

Another tranche of easyJet flights has been cancelled into Thursday evening.

From Gatwick Airport, easyJet’s biggest base, departures to Hurghada in Egypt, Copenhagen, Paris CDG, Geneva, Munich and Malaga have now been axed.

At Manchester, key holiday flights to Faro in Portugal and Milan Malpensa in Italy have been added to the original dozen cancellations.

For each outbound flight that is cancelled, upwards of 150 passengers are likely to be waiting at the other end of the route to fly home.

The Independent is listing the known cancellations here:

easyJet: key flights cancelled to and from UK airports

‘No explanation given and zero help from ground crew’: Passenger fury as holidaymakers stranded abroad

16:34 , Lucy Thackray

easyJet customers are taking to social media to complain about being stranded abroad due to the airline’s IT complications this afternoon.

“Thanks @easyJet for cancelling our flight from Prague to Manchester 2 hours before ! We have had to pay for a hotel tonight, another flight tomorrow and all our expenses. No explanation given and zero help from ground crew,” wrote David Keogh.

“Top work @easyJet leaving 200 plus people stranded until Monday in Pisa due to a cancelled flight,” wrote Twitter user Phil.

Ceitidh wrote: “Hi there, my sister is currently stranded at Palma airport with two four-year-old children and unable to get back to Glasgow after her flight was cancelled. Could you please advise on what she should do in order to get home?”

Many messages touched on the lack of communication from the airline.

Suzanne Seyghal wrote: “Dear @easyJet, have you tried switching it off and an again? You’re welcome. Yours, one of thousands of disgruntled passengers with ruined holiday plans... (PS: if you ever need some comms advice let me know - info was definitely lacking today...)”

Could my easyJet seat be given to someone whose flight was cancelled today?

16:25 , Lucy Thackray

In today’s Ask Me Anything event, The Independent’s Simon Calder has received a question about how today’s easyJet cancellations could impact flights with the airline later in the week.

One reader asks: “We’re due to fly with easyJet on Sunday. Is there a possibility that those who have had their flights cancelled today could be given our seats? Our flight is fully booked.”

Simon answers: “A really good question. The answer is no. Once someone’s flight is cancelled, they go right to the back of the queue for subsequent departures.

“However, as the article here explains, easyJet must do whatever it takes to get them to their destination on the original day of travel or as soon as possible thereafter, including buying tickets on rival airlines.”

The Ask Me Anything event is ongoing until 5pm - join the conversation in the comments box here:

Simon Calder to answer your travel questions live

‘Extraordinary circumstances’ message ‘sent in error’, says easyJet

16:14 , Lucy Thackray

An easyJet representative has said that a message claiming Thursday afternoon’s cancellations were caused by “extraordinary circumstances” - thus invalidating any compensation claims by passengers affected - was “sent in error”.

The spokesperson said: “The IT systems issue is now rectified. Unfortunately the ‘extraordinary’ was sent in error.

“We consider the cancellations related to the IT systems issues to be non-extraordinary. We will be reissuing customer comms to those who have received the incorrect information.”

Simon Calder to answer your travel questions: 4pm today

15:59 , Lucy Thackray

Caught up in the easyJet chaos today? Flight cancelled earlier this week? Concerned about this summer’s projected general travel chaos?

Our travel expert Simon Calder is just sitting down to answer your questions - go to the link below and comment at the bottom of the page to ask yours.

You may have to register in order to submit your question in the comments box.

Join the conversation here:

Simon Calder to answer your travel questions live

Are airlines allowed to offer me a replacement flight days later?

15:48 , Lucy Thackray

This week, several readers have reported that easyJet has offered them a replacement flight several days after the day their flight was cancelled by the airline.

Is this allowed?

The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder says: “You are entitled to travel on the original day of departure, if there is any commercial way of getting you to your destination. You should give the cancelling airline the opportunity to arrange a new flight (or, for destinations such as Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam, a Eurostar train).

“Airlines understandably want to keep passengers on their own services, but there are clear limits. The Civil Aviation Authority says that if the cancelling airline has another flight on the same day, it can rebook you on that (and provide meals while you wait).

“If the cancelling airline cannot or will not meet its obligation, you should buy a ticket and then claim it back.”

What are my consumer rights if my flight is cancelled?

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled at the last minute?

15:40 , Simon Calder

Tens of thousands of easyJet passengers have had their flights cancelled because of a failure of the airline’s IT systems.

At least 200 flights have been cancelled across the network.

So what are your consumer rights if your journey is axed at the last minute?

Under European air passengers’ rights rules, easyJet must:

• ensure its passengers are flown where they need to be as soon as possible

• provide hotels and meals as appropriate

In addition, it appears that passengers are due compensation of either £220 (for flights of under 1,500km) or £350 (longer flights).

Here’s the full breakdown of what airlines owe customers in the event of a cancellation:

EasyJet cancellations: your rights

What has easyJet said about the cancellations?

15:28 , Lucy Thackray

The airline is calling the tech failure that has grounded some 200 flights “IT systems issues”.

A spokeswoman for easyJet said: “Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing IT systems issues which means that flights due to depart between 13:00 and 15:00 UK time today may be impacted.

“Our team of IT specialists is working to restore the systems as soon as possible.

“We advise customers due to travel with us today to continue to check Flight Tracker to check the status of their flight before making their way to the airport.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused and would like to thank customers for their patience as we work to resolve this as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, customers with cancelled flights were told in a message that the issue was “outside of our control and is considered to be an extraordinary circumstance”.

Which airports and flights are affected?

15:21 , Simon Calder

As easyJet cancels hundreds of flights this afternoon amid what is thought to be an airline-wide IT system failure, which flights and airports are affected?

Dozens of flights to and from Gatwick and Bristol airport have been grounded, along with a handful each at Luton, Manchester and Belfast.

The Independent is listing them here:

easyJet: key flights cancelled to and from UK airports

What’s happening with easyJet?

15:17 , Lucy Thackray

Britain’s biggest budget airline, easyJet, has been forced to cancel some 200 flights amid what they are calling “IT systems issues”.

Airports affected include Gatwick, Bristol, Luton, Manchester and Belfast, with cancelled routes including Rhodes, Santorini, Antalya, Gran Canaria and Glasgow.

Customers who hoped to claim compensation for the disruption have already been rebuffed, with the airline saying the IT systems failure is “outside of our control and is considered to be an extraordinary circumstance”.

Read the full story:

EasyJet flights cancelled after ‘system failure’

Good afternoon

15:06 , Lucy Thackray

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s travel liveblog, where we’ll be updating you with all the latest news around easyJet’s systems failure and flight cancellations.