IT-issues in Germany disrupt airports - hospital cancels surgeries
A large IT issue is rendering Berlin's BER airport in Schönefeld immobile. Problems also persist at Hamburg's airport. The University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein has cancelled surgeries scheduled for today in Kiel and Lübeck due to technical difficulties.
A global computer glitch is causing issues in Germany - notably at Berlin's BER airport in Schönefeld. No planes are taking off or landing at the moment. A airport spokesperson told ntv.de that the flight operations have been halted until 10 am, but there are occasional starts. However, the flight traffic is now resuming, another airport spokesperson added.
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According to the Berlin "Tagesspiegel," the first official information about the issue in the terminal hall of the airport was given at 8:15 am. The glitch occurred a day after the start of summer vacations in Berlin and Brandenburg. The large hall of Terminal 1 was very crowded in the morning. Long lines formed in front of the check-in counters. Many passengers reportedly experienced confusion. Some people managed to get through the security checks to reach the gates.
Other German airports, including Hamburg, are also affected by the global computer glitch. Hamburg's airport reported issues with four airlines: Eurowings, Ryanair, Vueling, and Turkish Airlines. The airlines are initially issuing tickets manually.
Problems are also reported at Düsseldorf Airport, the largest in North Rhine-Westphalia. The extent of the issue is not yet clear. Cologne reported delays in check-in. Frankfurt am Main's airport reportedly has not been significantly affected. "Fraport systems at Frankfurt Airport are running," a Fraport spokesperson said. "It could be that individual airlines are affected. However, there are currently no problems." According to the spokesperson, airlines from the USA could experience delays due to the issues.
Lufthansa was only slightly affected by the glitch in the morning. However, there could be delays and occasional cancellations - primarily due to the disruptions at the Berlin airport. Passengers should also expect slight delays at airports in Nuremberg and Memmingen.
Meanwhile, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein has cancelled all planned surgeries at its locations in Kiel and Lübeck due to a large-scale technical issue. The clinic announced this on its website**. The care and safety of patients, as well as emergency care, are secured, it said.
Reports suggest a global glitch at Microsoft. Whether there is a connection is unclear at this time. According to the BBC, similar incidents have occurred at all Spanish airports. Airports in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, are also affected by the glitch. United Airlines has grounded all its planes.
Despite the ongoing global computer glitch affecting Microsoft, Bavaria's economy seems to have largely avoided the disruptions, with Munich's airport functioning smoothly. However, the issues continue to pose challenges for Hamburg's airport, with four airlines, including Eurowings, Ryanair, Vueling, and Turkish Airlines, facing manual ticketing processes.
