American Airlines resumed operations Tuesday following a one-hour ground stop caused by a network hardware issue involving DXC Technology, its flight operations vendor. The glitch, which disrupted thousands of Christmas Eve travelers, briefly hindered the airline’s ability to dispatch planes.
The carrier, operating 3,901 flights globally Tuesday, reported 19 cancellations and significant delays, with only 37% of flights departing on time and 36% arriving as scheduled, per aviation analytics firm Cirium. Affected passengers voiced frustrations online, with one tagging the airline on X, describing a lack of updates and potential issues with connections or refunds.
The stoppage comes amid a series of tech-related airline disruptions this year, including a global outage tied to Microsoft Azure and a Delta Air Lines meltdown costing $500 million. Despite system upgrades, staffing challenges since the pandemic have left airlines vulnerable to such incidents, noted Ken Quinn of Clyde & Co.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed American Airlines’ report of a technical issue, which former airline executive Robert Mann attributed to a failure in automated systems calculating weight, balance, and engine performance data needed for flight dispatch.
Adding to the challenges, adverse weather caused delays at Dallas-Fort Worth, one of American’s hubs. The TSA anticipates screening 40 million passengers this holiday season, heightening the impact of any travel disruptions.
American Airlines’ swift recovery may help avoid a prolonged crisis, contrasting previous holiday meltdowns that stranded millions and incurred substantial penalties.
