Computer glitch hits Air New Zealand flights

[David Ramsay]

From NZ Herald web site (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602619)

Computer glitch hits Air New Zealand flights
New 12:00PM Sunday Oct 11, 2009

Hundreds of domestic air travellers had their flights delayed this morning after Air New Zealand's entire computer system failed.

A suspected power outage affected online bookings, call centre systems and airport check in systems, communications spokesman Mike Tod said.

The company had to resort to manual bookings and check-in procedures while IT staff worked to fix the problem.

Mr Tod said flights were delayed up to two hours but it was hoped to have the system up and running again by this afternoon.

[Brandon Giacomin]

NZ806 BNE-CHC sch. 0750 act. 1007 ZK-OJG
NZ132 BNE-AKL sch. 0830 act. 1030 (has not yet departed) ZK-NCK
NZ938 OOL-AKL sch. 0800 act. 0954 ZK-OJN
NZ948 OOL-WLG sch. 0830 act. 1009 ZK-OJI
NZ702 SYD-AKL sch. 0930 act. 1130 (has not yet departed) ZK-OJC
NZ782 SYD-CHC sch. 0950 act. 1200 (has not yet departed) ZK-OJM
NZ704 SYD-AKL sch. 1130 act. 1230 (has not yet departed) ZK-OJE
NZ752 MEL-WLG sch. 0850 act. 1050 (has not yet departed)

[Michael Rychter]

The (Sydney) Herald today indicates the unhappiness of the AirNZ CEO, Bob Fyfe in respect of the system crash.

"In my 30-year working career, I am struggling to recall a time where I have seen a supplier so slow to react to a catastrophic system failure such as this and so unwilling to accept responsibility and apologise to its client and its client's customers," he says.


The full SMH story is here: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/air-new-zealand-blasts-ibm-over-system-crash-20091012-gt4p.html

I wonder if QANTAS will re-think of their outsourcing ambitions that are also being directed towards IBM.