RTTue, 24 Dec 2024 13:15 UTC
© Kevin Carter/Getty ImagesAA Airbus A321-231
The company could not predict when operations would resume.
Every single American Airlines flight in the US has been grounded due to a "technical issue," the company said in a statement on Tuesday. With the glitch striking during the busiest travel period of the year, millions of people could be affected.
In a notice on its website, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that
American Airlines - the country's largest carrier - had requested a ground stop for all of its flights on Tuesday morning.The company confirmed shortly afterwards that it was
"experiencing a technical issue with all American Airlines flights."
Responding to a post from a customer on X, American Airlines said that it could not provide a timeframe for flights to resume, only that technicians were "trying to fix it in the shortest possible time."
Video footage shared on X showed passengers being told to wait at crowded gate areas. In one video, an American Airlines employee announced that "our system is down."
The Christmas and New Year period is a busy one for air travel. According to trade group Airlines for America,
roughly 54 million US passengers are expected to take to the sky between December 19 and January 6, a 6% increase over last year.
Comment: American Airlines has since lifted the ground stop, which was due to a 'vendor technology' issue, but a ripple effect is still being felt across the country:
Ground stop in place at LaGuardia Airport
Travelers heading from New York are in for more misery, after snow which blanketed the Big Apple has resulted in a ground stop at LaGuardia Airport. A FAA notice indicates that the halt has been brought in due to snow and ice.
FlightAware's misery map reveals that the number of delayed or cancelled flights has continued to rise despite a temporary halt on flights being lifted.
There were 786 delays and seven cancellations expected between 7am and 11am according to the flight tracker.
Most disruption was being recorded at Dalla Forth Worth Airport in Texas where another ground stop has been brought in due to heavy thunder storms.
Delays pile up at Chicago's O'Hare Airport
American Airlines' services may have resumed, but at Chicago O'Hare International Airport the knock on effects of the delays are already being felt. O'Hare is typically among the busiest airports in the US. Between December 20 and January 2, around 3.6 million passengers are expected to pass through Chicago's two airports.
American Airlines says glitch was due to 'vendor technology issue'
The technology is required to operate the airline's system to release flights.
FAA lifts ground stop
The Federal Aviation Authority has ended the ground stop affecting all American Airlines flights. The ground stop was lifted at 7:50am EST, an hour after it was put in place. Delays are still expected across the country as the airline scrambles to get back on track.
Up, Up and Away...Reindeer are more reliable, says Santa!
Comment: American Airlines has since lifted the ground stop, which was due to a 'vendor technology' issue, but a ripple effect is still being felt across the country: Up, Up and Away...Reindeer are more reliable, says Santa!