Delta Software Outage Delays Boarding

February 2, 2016

Delta Air Lines delayed boarding for about two dozen flights on Tuesday as a result of a brief outage in software that powers ground operations, a spokesman said.

The airline does not expect further delays due to the issue, and no flights already in the air were affected, a spokesman said. He would not comment as to whether a cyber attack caused the outage.

The delays prompted concern on social media, including from journalists who were in Iowa to cover the caucuses there ahead of the US presidential election in 2016.

The technical issue follows several high-profile computer problems experienced by US airlines in 2015, including a router error at United and a malfunctioning iPad application used by American Airlines' pilots that caused delays.

Industry consultants say computer disruptions will have a growing impact on airlines, and their passengers, as they automate more operations, outfit their planes with Wi-Fi and distribute boarding passes on smartphones.

(Reuters)