Nairobi, Kenya – July 20, 2024

Kenya Airways, the national airline, has announced significant disruptions in its booking system, attributing the issues to a global technical glitch affecting airlines worldwide. The glitch, which began in the early hours of July 19, has caused widespread inconvenience for passengers attempting to book, modify, or check-in for flights.

The airline’s spokesperson, Jane Mwangi, addressed the media, stating, “We are experiencing unprecedented technical difficulties with our booking system due to a global outage affecting multiple airlines. Our technical team is working around the clock to resolve these issues and restore normal operations as swiftly as possible.”

Passengers have reported challenges ranging from being unable to access their booking details online to difficulties at airport check-in counters. Many have taken to social media to express their frustration, with some reporting missed flights and disrupted travel plans.

The global nature of the glitch suggests that the issue is linked to one of the major third-party technology providers that many airlines rely on for their reservation systems. Similar reports have emerged from airlines in Europe, Asia, and North America, indicating the widespread impact of the outage.

In response to the crisis, Kenya Airways has implemented several interim measures to assist affected passengers. These include manual check-ins at airports, additional customer service representatives to handle inquiries, and frequent updates via social media and the airline’s official website.

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“We understand the inconvenience this has caused our valued passengers, and we deeply regret the disruption to their travel plans,” Mwangi added. “Our top priority is to ensure that all affected customers are taken care of and that we minimize further disruptions.”

Industry analysts suggest that the outage highlights the vulnerability of the aviation sector to technical disruptions and underscores the need for robust contingency plans. As airlines become increasingly dependent on sophisticated technology, the potential for widespread impacts from technical failures grows.

Kenya Airways has assured passengers that their data remains secure despite the technical issues. The airline has also urged customers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport and to contact the airline’s customer service for any urgent assistance.

As of now, there is no definitive timeline for the full restoration of the booking system. However, the airline remains optimistic that the issue will be resolved soon and that normal service will resume without further delay.

Kenya Airways continues to monitor the situation closely and is in constant communication with the affected technology provider to expedite a resolution. Passengers are encouraged to stay informed through official channels for the latest updates on the situation.