A ‘technical issue’ is has been affecting international British Airways flights overnight.
Early morning reports suggested a flight planning system power outrage had affected inbound flights from destinations around the world affecting thousands of passengers.
One passenger complained of suffering a 22-hour delay.
More: BA unveils first route for new B787-10 Dreamliner
BA defends ‘fuel tankering’ ahead of Panorama expose
British Airways appoints new head of global sales
A small number of aircraft arriving at Heathrow and Gatwick were affected, according to the airline.
Passengers were being offered “alternative arrangements” including re-booking onto other flights and offering hotel accommodation to those stranded overnight.
BA reportedly told one passenger who complained on Twitter: “Our teams are working hard to resolve a technical issue which is affecting some of our flights.
“We’re rebooking customers onto alternative flights and offering hotel accommodation where they are unable to continue their journeys tonight.”
A BA spokesperson said: “Our teams are working hard to resolve a technical issue which is affecting some of our flights, and we have rebooked customers onto alternative flights and offered hotel accommodation where they have been unable to continue their journeys last night.
“We are very sorry for the disruption to their travel plans.
“We are advising customers to check ba.com for the latest flight information and to ensure that contact details are up to date on their booking, so that we can provide the latest information.”
It is the third major IT failure at BA in two years following more than 650 flights being cancelled over a May bank holiday in 2017 and another last summer.
Which? Travel editor Rory Boland said: “This is the latest in a long line of British Airways technical glitches causing delays and cancellations and yet again it’s thousands of passengers who are paying the price – left tired, frustrated and with a lack of information and assistance from the airline.
“BA must do the right thing and re-route passengers as quickly as possible, using other airlines where necessary, as well as informing customers facing disruption about their entitlement to compensation.”
More: BA unveils first route for new B787-10 Dreamliner
BA defends ‘fuel tankering’ ahead of Panorama expose
British Airways appoints new head of global sales
