Large-scale disruptions in Turkish Airlines' operations affected more than a hundred flights in Istanbul

All flights of the flag carrier Turkish Airlines at Istanbul Airport from 19:00 to 22:00 on November 1 were canceled. It is reported that the airline's system was out of order.

Social media suggests that the failure was caused by cyberattacks. According to Flightradar24, passengers on more than a hundred planes were affected and were unable to take off on time.

The failure in the Turkish Airlines system affected 92 flights at Istanbul's new airport (IST) and 14 flights at Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW).

Tourists planning to leave the city waited for several hours in confusion for further instructions from employees and a solution to the problem that the carrier would offer them.

Turkish media reported that Turkish Airlines would provide passengers with accommodation, reimbursement and compensation for any losses associated with the flight cancellations.

"Due to general disruptions and interruptions in the information technology infrastructure, all passengers who booked flights between November 1 and November 2, 2023 (inclusive) have received additional rights to change and refund, provided that the transactions are made before November 7, 2023," the customer service department said.

By midnight, the problem was resolved, but the consequences of the failure are likely to be felt for at least another day until the airports return to their planned schedule.