Austin air travel affected by CrowdStrike outage; CapMetro public transit back on track

Posted by author July 19, 2024 Travel

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport saw multiple flight cancellations and delays Friday morning due to a content update launched by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that has created a global outage.

Capital Metro also saw a service disruption but is completely back on schedule.

Here’s what to know if your flight is affected.

What do I do if I’m flying today?

Be sure to check your flight status before leaving home, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport spokesperson Leslie Ramirez said.

As of 8 a.m., there were 18 cancellations at the Austin airport with the number of delays “a little harder to pin down,” Ramirez said. She said there is no certain time when passengers can expect things to look more normal.

“We’re just trying to remind passengers to … confirm that (their flight) is still scheduled before heading to the airport,” Ramirez said.

“The most important thing is getting in touch with their airline if their flight has been canceled or delayed and not heading to the airport to try and rebook but staying home and kind of trying to do that from home.”

Which airlines are affected?

United, Delta, American and Allegiant Airlines are primarily affected, according to Ramirez.

Each airline, except Allegiant, has posted notices on their websites with information for passengers affected by the outage:

United: Flights are resuming, but delays and cancellations are expected to continue throughout the day. Customers wanting to change their travel plans can do so via a waiver, the United website or the app.
Delta: Customers with flights scheduled for Friday can fill out a travel waiver where they can manage their travel changes. Fare differences will be waived if travel plans are rebooked for July 24 or earlier.
American: Connection was reestablished by 5 a.m. and the airline expects travel plans to be impacted further today. Customers affected are able to rebook without fees, receive a refund or cancel.

Are there CapMetro delays?

Public transportation is completely back on schedule as of 7:45 a.m. after delays to buses being dispatched to their routes, according to CapMetro spokesperson Jorge Ortega.

The main impact occurred early Friday morning but is no longer affecting operations.