US flights resume ‘gradually’ after FAA system outage

Flights across the US are returning to normal operations following a major safety system failure overnight.

The Federal Aviation Administration said: “Normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the US following an overnight outage to the Notice to Air Missions system that provides safety info to flight crews.”

The problem resulted in more than 3,000 flight delays and several hundred cancellations across the US.

Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive of the US Travel Association, said the failure “must spur federal action”.

“Today’s FAA catastrophic system failure is a clear sign that America’s transportation network desperately needs significant upgrades,” he said.

“Americans deserve an end-to-end travel experience that is seamless and secure. And our nation’s economy depends on a best-in-class air travel system.

“We call on federal policymakers to modernise our vital air travel infrastructure to ensure our systems are able to meet demand safely and efficiently.”

Update 5: Normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the U.S. following an overnight outage to the Notice to Air Missions system that provides safety info to flight crews. The ground stop has been lifted.

We continue to look into the cause of the initial problem

— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) January 11, 2023

The FAA had ordered airlines to pause all domestic departures until 9am Eastern Time (2pm GMT) to allow the agency to “validate the integrity of flight and safety information”.

The outage affected the Notice to Air Missions system which reports potential hazards and important information to flight crews about airports and the state of flying.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, commented: “If your flight to or from the US is cancelled because of the FAA computer outage and you are departing from the UK or EU, or travelling with an airline based there, you will be entitled to a refund or rebooking at the earliest available opportunity, including with other carriers if necessary.

“However, passengers are unlikely to be owed additional compensation as the outage is considered an extraordinary circumstance, outside of the airlines’ control.

“If you are significantly delayed, usually by two hours or more, your airline should also provide assistance including free meals or refreshments, or overnight accommodation if required. If your flight is delayed by more than five hours, you have the same rights as if you had suffered a cancellation, and can request a refund or rebooking.”