Spanish airports are managed by Aena, the largest airport manager in the world, responsible, directly or indirectly, for close to 80 infrastructures in several countries (46 in Spain, 32 in America and one in the United Kingdom).

The company, 51% owned by the Spanish State, said in statements published on social media that "it is already recovering some of its systems" and that, in Spain, "all airports are operational, but some processes are developing slowly" and generating delays.

According to Aena, the IT failure mainly affects the 'check in' (registration) of passengers and luggage, as well as information points at airports, and the processes are being done manually.

Images from Madrid or Barcelona airports, the largest in Spain, broadcast on television, show queues of passengers at the check-in counters.

Airlines are appealing to passengers who have flights today to go to the airports earlier than usual, given the slowness of processes and because it is expected to be a very busy day, as it coincides with the eve of the weekend and with summer vacation.

Spain is the second tourist destination in the world, after France.

The disruption at airports is the biggest impact that the failure at Microsoft is having in Spain, but other companies such as the airline Vueling, banks such as BBVA or Unicaja, the Post Office or the telecommunications operator Movistar have also reported that they are having problems. in some systems and services.

A global flaw in Microsoft's system is causing problems for countless companies, including airlines, financial, media and other industries in various parts of the world.

Tech giant Microsoft said it was taking "mitigation measures".

"Our services are in the process of being recovered as we take mitigation measures", wrote the company on the social network X (formerly Twitter).

In a message titled "Degradation of Service", Microsoft states that users "may not be able to access many Microsoft 365 applications and services".

Microsoft adds that it is mobilized and treating the matter "with the highest priority and urgency, while continuing to address the ongoing impact on remaining Microsoft 365 applications that are in a degraded state."