Delta Air Lines is the latest US carrier to be hit by major disruptions resulting from IT issues, raising questions over whether the recent wave of US airline mergers, which has led to the creation of four large carriers controlling 85% of US domestic capacity, has created organisations that are too large and overly reliant on IT systems that date back to the 1990s. Airline Passenger Experience Association's Joe Leader warns that "we have become so reliant on the technology that people have genuinely forgotten how to go to manual mode.” The American Airlines computer system was down for more than two hours in New York last week, while a similar problem at United delayed flights between Newark Liberty International Airport and San Francisco airport for several hours.
Delta Air Lines is the latest US carrier to be hit by major disruptions resulting from IT issues, raising questions over whether the recent wave of US airline mergers, which has led to the creation of four large carriers controlling 85% of US domestic capacity, has created organisations that are too large and overly reliant on IT systems that date back to the 1990s. Airline Passenger Experience Association's Joe Leader warns that "we have become so reliant on the technology that people have genuinely forgotten how to go to manual mode.” Delta was forced to ground 1,700 flights earlier in the week and is battling with ongoing cancellations.