19 Jul 2024 | 03:31 PM UTC
Asia: Air travel, rail, and business disruptions due to major network outage continue as of July 19
Global network outage affecting travel and businesses across Asia as of July 19. Service outages likely; reconfirm transport bookings.
As of July 19, a global network outage affecting Microsoft cloud services is prompting widespread travel and business disruptions across Asia. A cybersecurity update reportedly triggered the interruptions. Although Microsoft has started implementing a fix for the issue, the timeline for services returning to normal remains unclear.
Multiple airports across the region, including Hong Kong SAR, India, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand, are experiencing delays and suspensions of online processing systems. Various airlines like India's Akasa Air (QP), IndiGo (6E), and SpiceJet (SG), as well as AirAsia (AK), Cathay Pacific (CX), and Japan Airlines (JAL), are also impacted, leading to delays. The outage is also affecting other airlines globally, with multiple American carriers grounding flights. Additional flight delays and cancellations are probable in the coming hours. Lingering disruptions are likely after normal services resume as airlines work to clear backlogs.
Shipping firms have reported onshore and offshore device issues, though no significant shipping delays are ongoing in the region as of July 19. However, system outages at container terminals and ports cannot be ruled out.
Related communication issues are prompting major rail service delays in parts of Australia as of the evening of July 19, while online ticketing systems for Malaysia's Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) trains are disrupted. Additional train services in other countries may face delays or cancelations in the coming hours. Increased demand for alternative transport services is likely to intensify during peak hours in cities.
Banking services such as app-based transactions and ATM functions, telecommunications, television broadcasting, postal, and retail services are also disrupted in various areas, in addition to workplace devices and websites, including media channels and government agencies. Business closures and further suspension of services, especially cloud and app-based services, are likely until the situation normalizes.
Reconfirm transport reservations. Do not check out of accommodations until onward travel is confirmed. Reach airports at least three hours prior to scheduled flights to account for ongoing processing delays. Confirm business appointments and shipping schedules; plan for delivery delays and service outages. Heed all official instructions, including recovery of affected accounts and devices.
