New Delhi: Flight operations at several airports were disrupted on Wednesday morning after check-in systems suddenly stopped working. Airlines had to switch to manual procedures, which slowed down departures. A source told PTI that check-in platforms at multiple airports were affected at the same time, causing some flight delays.
At Varanasi airport, passengers were informed through an announcement that read, “Microsoft Windows reports major service outages globally. IT services/check-in systems at airports are impacted.” The announcement also said that manual check-in and boarding were being used while systems remained unavailable.
Microsoft denies outages as airports do manual boarding
Microsoft denied any outage and called the reports “factually incorrect.” Downdetector, a real-time outage tracking website, also did not show any disruptions. Microsoft told PTI, “This is factually incorrect. No outages reported on Windows.” Airlines impacted included IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express, according to information shared at the airport.
Who caused it?
Neither Microsoft nor the airlines issued immediate statements about the incident. Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) confirmed operational issues on social media. Posting on X at 7.40 am, it said, “Some domestic airlines are currently experiencing operational challenges, which may lead to delays or schedule challenges. Our on-ground teams are diligently working with all stakeholders to ensure a seamless and efficient passenger experience.”
Passenger Advisory issued at 07:40 Hours#DelhiAirport #PassengerAdvisory #DELAdvisory pic.twitter.com/iUVUW2iJDE
— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) December 3, 2025
At this point, it is unclear who caused the disruption. However, Microsoft denying any global outage and airlines not commenting, may the source of the problem may lie within airport systems or internal IT operations. Passengers had to deal with slower check-ins and boarding as the airports worked to resolve the situation.