Delta computer outage forces couple to delay wedding plans

A couple with plans to get married in San Francisco Monday afternoon were forced to delay their nuptials after world-wide system problems at Delta Air Lines left them stranded at Toronto's Pearson airport.

Alaina Whittaker and Perry Higgins, who live in California, were travelling through Toronto after a trip to Spain.

They arrived in Toronto Sunday night then got to the airport early Monday morning only to find out that their flight had been affected by a computer problem grounding Delta flights world-wide.

"It's been a long couple of days," Whittaker told CBC News. "We're waiting to find out what to do."

By 7 a.m. dozens of passengers were sitting on the floor at Delta's check-in counter.

Despite the delay, Whittaker and Higgins say they're in good spirits.

"We're just laughing and joking and making new friends," said Perry. "Everyone is in the same situation, we're all stuck. We just have to ride it out now."

Early on Monday Delta Air Lines had said passengers could expect "large-scale cancellations" after a power outage knocked out computer systems and operations. Just before 9 a.m. ET, the airline said the ground stop order — which prevents all flights from taking off — had been lifted. However delays and cancellations are expected to continue throughout the day as the company works to return to normal operations.

The company said in a tweet that "customer service agents are doing everything they can to help" and said there may be a delay in getting accurate information posted at airport arrival and departure screens.

​Pearson airport tweeted the following information for affected Toronto passengers: