BREAKING: flight delays and longer wait times, huge crowd at Budapest Airport due to IT outage – UPDATED

Several airlines’ passenger check-in systems at Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport have been hit by a global IT outage, causing flight delays and longer wait times, operator Budapest Airport said on Friday.

International news agencies say a global IT glitch is causing disruptions to the systems of airports, airlines, rail companies and banks, including all airports in Spain, the airports in Berlin and Amsterdam, the leading British train company, Sky Television as well as several Australian and New Zealand companies.

At Liszt Ferenc International, the problem is affecting Eurowings, Ryanair, Turkish Airlines and Wizz Air flights, Budapest Airport said, adding that several airlines have switched to manual passenger check-in. The operator said it is keeping passengers updated by intercom announcements.

Passengers are asked to go straight to security screening at Terminal 2A after they have dropped off their baggages.

According to an X tweet, the crowd waiting for departure is huge at the airport:

Budapest Airport 📌

Arkadaşım paylaşmış…

Biraz sorun var gibi uçuşlarda 🤦‍♂️📌 pic.twitter.com/K0EBTbeScC

— Ufuk UYSAL (@uysalufuk) July 19, 2024

The global IT outage made American airlines to cancel most of their flights – here is a 12-hour timelapse:

Double click for some more photos:

UPDATE: Budapest Airport’s statement

Due to a global IT failure, several airline check-in systems are inoperable, resulting in flight delays, congestion and significantly increased waiting times at Ferenc Liszt International Airport. The problem affects flights operated by Eurowings, Ryanair, Turkish Airlines and Wizz Air. Several airlines have started to check in passengers manually. Based on information received from the ground handling companies, Budapest Airport informs passengers via the public announcement system and provides water to those waiting in the terminal.

Budapest Airport asks departing passengers who hold a boarding pass with a barcode or QR code and who have checked in their baggage or are traveling with hand baggage only to go directly to Terminal 2A for security screening. Please enter the terminal building unescorted, to avoid further congestion.
For flight information, please visit www.bud.hu.

Budapest Airport kindly asks for passengers’ patience and cooperation with staff working at the terminal.

Here’s the Wizz Air’s announcement:

UPDATE 2: situation stabilized

Read also:

• Budapest Airport to welcome new 4-star hotel in 2025 – PHOTOS and more in THIS article
• Hungarian air traffic controllers assert delays are not solely their fault – Details HERE