Europe: Global Microsoft service outage impacts airports, rail services, and banking services across Europe July 19 /update 1

A Microsoft service outage on July 19 is impacting multiple sectors, including air and rail travel, banking services, and telecommunications across Europe. Air travel has been significantly impacted. Authorities in Spain report disruptions at all Spanish airports, while Berlin Airport (BER) in Germany has suspended all flights. Several major airlines, including Ryanair (FR) and SAS (SK), are experiencing check-in issues. Major US airlines, American (AA), Delta (DL), United (UA), and Allegiant Air (G4), have issued a global ground stop for all flights. It is unclear when normal operations will resume.

In the UK, the national rail operator reports widespread IT issues across the entire network. Delays and cancelations are impacting multiple rail companies, including Avanti West Coast, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Great Western Railway, London Northwestern Railway, Northern, Southern, Thameslink, TransPennine Express, and West Midlands Railway. The outage is also impacting telecommunications services, including Sky News and the London Stock Exchange's news feed. Banking services disruptions in Turkiye and Spain have also been reported, and are likely elsewhere.

Public transport disruptions, including delays and cancellations of rail and flight services, are probable in the coming hours. Disruptions will likely persist after regular services resume as transport operators work to clear service backlogs. The outage could lead to business and electronic payment disruptions. Lingering business interruptions are possible even after regular services resume, as operations take time to normalize.