UPDATE: United Airlines flights have been cleared for takeoff

UPDATE:

United Airlines flights have been cleared for takeoff. The FAA has lifted the ground stop, but flights around the world remain delayed.

The airline is reported to be waiving change fees for affected customers. United also said customers scheduled to travel Wednesday, could change their plans without penalty, with some restrictions, while the airline works to get back on schedule.

This is the second time in two months that the world's largest airline, when measured by number of destinations served, has been hit by major technical issues. The Chicago-based airline halted all takeoffs in the United States on June 2, due to what the airline described as computer automation issues. The airline and law enforcement officials both confirmed that the 'network connectivity issue' was not due to hacking or a cyber-attack.

UPDATE:

The earlier FAA "ground stop" covering United's "mainline" flights — issued at the carrier's request — have been lifted by 10 a.m. ET. United's flight schedules are still experiencing severe disruptions at airports across the country, which includes United's biggest hub at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport, where a localized FAA 'ground stop' still remains in effect for United flights.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

#Travel Alert - United Airlines U.S. flights are grounded Wednesday, July 8, due to a computer system glitch, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).