Stansted Airport IT glitch triggered hours-long delays for multiple outbound flights on Sunday morning, causing long queues and significant disruption for thousands of passengers. The technical issue affected critical systems including check-in, baggage handling, and security, though flight arrivals remained unaffected.
Footage from the scene showed long queues extending outside the main terminal building at the Essex-based airport, as staff worked to manually process passengers during the outage.
Flights delayed by up to four hours
According to the airport’s website, several departing flights were delayed—some by as much as four hours—though no cancellations were reported. Airport authorities confirmed that the problem began early Sunday but had been resolved by around 10am.
“All systems have now been fully restored and no flights have been cancelled as a result of the IT issue,” Stansted said in a statement. Officials added that the cause is still under investigation but may be linked to disrupted internet access affecting certain operational systems.
15,000 passengers affected during peak travel
On a typical Sunday morning, around 15,000 passengers are scheduled to depart from Stansted. While most were eventually able to board their flights, the glitch created widespread frustration and confusion among travellers.
The airport has not confirmed whether the issue was internal or caused by an external network fault, but it is not believed to be related to any cyberattack.
Background: Rising concern over airport tech resilience
This incident follows a series of recent IT issues at UK airports, raising concerns about the resilience of digital infrastructure in the aviation sector. As reliance on automated systems grows, any technical disruption has the potential to severely impact passenger experience and operational continuity.
Travellers are advised to check with their airlines for updated flight information in case of further delays.
