Server issue causes Qantas delay

 

IT provider told to "take appropriate measures".

A server problem affecting Qantas's computerised check-in system yesterday delayed thousands of travellers in airports across the country.

The Amadeus check-in system is reported to have suffered intermittent outages between 8.25am and 9.30am AEDT, forcing Qantas and other airlines using the system to check in passengers manually.

Travellers were told to expect delays of up to an hour for domestic flights. Three international Qantas flights also were delayed.

Qantas has been partnered with IT solutions provider Amadeus since 2000.

In November 2009, passengers suffered similar delays due to a three-hour-long crash of the Amadeus check-in system.

Qantas group executive for government and corporate affairs, David Epstein, told reporters that Qantas would be taking the matter up with Amadeus to ensure the problem would not occur again.

"We'll be asking them to take appropriate measures to ensure our customers are not left waiting like this anytime in the near future," he said to The Australian.


Server issue causes Qantas delay
"I'd bet one arm and one leg that this is no different to any other circumstance where a gross system failure is attributed by an enterprise to a "technical glitch" or "abnormal operation" and the ..."
By GeordieGuy
 
 
 
Comments: 1
GeordieGuy
Jan 4, 2010 11:35 AM
I'd bet one arm and one leg that this is no different to any other circumstance where a gross system failure is attributed by an enterprise to a "technical glitch" or "abnormal operation" and the provider tied to the whipping post. It'd further fit in with my experience to see it in the wake of repeated warnings from the provider about corrective action and predictable problems.

The whole time this fiasco has unraveled, with the Qantas talking head providing nothing more insightful than "Whoops! it asploded!" I have been wondering why there is no apparent resilient design, redundant system or other stock standard systems architecture best-practice involved. When are Australians, indeed people around the world, going to stop accepting the "technical glitch" excuse in favour of demanding that systems are available - even if if the executive management in the technology areas are incentivised on reducing costs?

I'd love to know what the CTO of Qantas' KPIs were for 2009, and I'd also love to know what the latest version of the Amadeus system software is compared to the one that Qantas has deployed.
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