According to a statement from AIB, there is currently no estimated time for when the services will be restored. “Our team is prioritizing this issue and is working diligently to resolve it as swiftly as possible,” a spokesperson from AIB commented on the urgency of the situation.

The impact of this outage has been profound, with numerous business owners voicing their concerns. “We are unable to process any transactions this morning, putting our business at a complete standstill,” mentioned one frustrated owner, who operates six different locations. The sentiment was echoed across various social media platforms, where several traders shared similar distressing experiences, indicating a substantial loss of revenue and customer dissatisfaction.

The bank clarified that this disruption is due to a “wider European issue” that affects the processing services of AIB MS, a joint venture with Fiserv. While AIB’s own systems were not directly impacted today, their merchant services are bearing the brunt of this technical glitch.

For ongoing updates, AIB has directed merchants and customers to their dedicated services page, Aibms.com, assuring that any progress or resolution will be communicated there. As of now, the outage has not affected online credit card payments, providing a slight relief amid the broader payment challenges.

Impact on Airports and Airlines

The outage has severely affected several airports, causing extensive delays and grounding flights. Airports like Berlin’s Brandenburg and India’s major hubs in Delhi and Mumbai have resorted to manual check-ins. American Airlines, among other carriers, apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the technical difficulties​.

Business and Banking Disruptions

The outage has also impacted banking services, with users in Australia, Asia, and the UK experiencing issues. Visa card payments have been particularly affected, causing problems for both consumers and businesses. Several retail stores, including chains like Gail’s, have put up signs notifying customers of their inability to process card payments.

Broadcasting and Media Outages

Broadcasters, including Sky News, faced significant disruptions, with some going off-air temporarily. The London Stock Exchange also reported issues with its regulatory news service, further illustrating the widespread impact of this outage on critical services.

Microsoft and CrowdStrike’s Response

Microsoft has been actively working to mitigate the issues, stating that continuous improvements are being made. CrowdStrike identified problems related to its Falcon sensor, which contributed to the widespread crashes on Windows operating systems. Both companies are collaborating to resolve the situation as quickly as possible​

Global Repercussions and Expert Opinions

Experts are calling this the largest IT outage in history, likening it to the feared Y2K bug that never materialized to such an extent. The outage tracker Downdetector has been inundated with reports from affected users worldwide, highlighting the massive scale of the problem​.

As companies and services strive to restore normalcy, the global IT outage serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in our increasingly digital world.