New York Times: Airports Worldwide Hit by Delays After Software Outage
LONDON — Flights were delayed and travelers struggled to check in at airports around the world on Thursday after a software program used by several major airlines went down.
The program, known as Altea and developed by a company called Amadeus, went down as a result of what it called a “network issue.” Altea helps airlines manage customer reservations, including tagging luggage and issuing boarding passes.
Amadeus software is used by 189 airlines — including major carriers like British Airways, Lufthansa, Thai Airways and Air France — and Altea in particular is designed with full-service airlines in mind.
Problems were reported at airports in Asia, Europe and the Americas, demonstrating the breadth of the software’s use as well as the integrated nature of modern air travel.
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Update #1: Airlines Suffer Worldwide Delays as Amadeus Booking System Fails (Bloomberg)
Update #2: Airlines plunged into chaos as check-in systems crash at airports around the world including in London, Paris and Washington DC (Daily Mail)
WNU Editor: I know the company that developed and maintains the software, and I am surprised that this has happened. Another sign on how interconnected the world has become.
