Microsoft responds to 'airport message' blaming Windows for outage at check-in counters of Indigo, Air India and other airlines

Microsoft has responded to claims that an outage of Windows has disrupted the flight operations of major airlines, including Indigo, Air India and others on Wednesday (December 3) morning. A report by news agency PTI said that the check-in systems of major airlines unexpectedly failed at multiple airports in the country, forcing airlines to switch to manual procedures at various locations, leading to flight delays.

“This is factually incorrect. No outages reported on Windows,” Microsoft said in a statement shared with The Times of India. The TOI tech team found no reported issues on the Microsoft services status page and it showed, “All products are operational” message. In addition, the outage tracking website Downdetector also indicated no problems with Microsoft Windows globally.

What the airport announcement said

According to the PTI report, an announcement made to passengers at Varanasi airport said, “Microsoft Windows reports major service outages globally. IT services/ check in systems at airports are impacted." All the travelers have been told that manual check-in and boarding processes were being implemented while systems remained unavailable.

A number of domestic carriers, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express, are among the airlines reportedly affected by the system failure.

“We have had several unavoidable flight delays and some cancellations in the past few days due to various reasons… Our teams are working diligently to ensure that operations normalise as soon as possible,” IndiGo said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Delhi Airport said, “Some domestic airlines are currently experiencing operational challenges, which may lead to delays or schedule changes. Our on-ground teams are diligently working with all stakeholders to ensure a seamless and efficient passenger experience.”

“Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest flight updates,” the passenger advisory added.