American Airlines resumed its operations on Tuesday following a brief halt caused by a "technical glitch" that grounded all its flights in the United States just before Christmas Eve. According to the company's spokesperson, Sarah Jantz, flights began boarding again around 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (13:00 GMT), as reported to CNN.
The airline attributed the disruption to a technological failure by one of its suppliers, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue a nationwide flight suspension at the company's request. The FAA later lifted the order, allowing flights to resume with some lingering delays.
Challenges During the Holiday Rush
The issue impacted one of the busiest days of the year for American Airlines, which had over 3,300 domestic flights scheduled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Despite the disruptions, the airline managed to keep cancellations to a minimum, although delays persisted throughout the day.
"We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience caused," American Airlines stated in a release. "We are working diligently to get our customers to their destinations as quickly as possible," they added.
The American Airlines pilots' union clarified that the glitch involved the Flight Operations System (FOS), a crucial tool for managing essential operations like boarding. Although the specific system affected was not confirmed, the airline assured that it has backup tools and trained personnel to mitigate such interruptions.
Many passengers expressed their frustration on social media, citing delays of up to 90 minutes and a lack of information at boarding gates. Others took the situation with humor. "American Airlines ruining Christmas for tens of thousands isn't new. Remember, this is the same airline that in the '90s allowed an unaccompanied minor to fly to an unknown destination at Christmas without checking if his parents were onboard," joked one user, referencing the film "Home Alone." Memes quickly followed.
Technological Hiccups: A Recurring Issue
Technological problems in airlines are not uncommon, but their impact is especially pronounced during peak demand periods. Last July, a global outage caused travel chaos, affecting half a million people and triggering a federal investigation. In 2022, a severe winter storm led to widespread cancellations during the holiday season, exposing flaws in Southwest Airlines' scheduling systems, which subsequently faced lawsuits and fines.
Understanding American Airlines' Technical Glitch
What caused the American Airlines flight disruptions?
The disruptions were caused by a technical failure from one of American Airlines' suppliers, affecting the Flight Operations System.
How did American Airlines handle the situation?
American Airlines worked diligently to minimize cancellations and issued an apology to customers, assuring that they are utilizing backup tools and trained personnel to manage the situation.