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Airport delays caused by computer breakdown infuriate travellers in Australia Airport delays caused by computer breakdown infuriate travellers in Australia
(about 2 hours later)
Passengers at Australia’s international airports experienced severe delays on Monday morning because of a computer systems breakdown. Passengers flying out of Australia are being told to head to the airport as planned, despite a computer systems outage affecting inbound and outbound travellers.
Australian Border Force said it was working with the Department of Home Affairs to resolve the IT systems failure, which was affecting the processing of inbound and outbound passengers. “Additional ABF staff have been deployed to process passengers and to minimise delays,” a spokesman said. The Australian Border Force says it’s working with the Department of Home Affairs to resolve the IT systems outage affecting SmartGate passport control machines, meaning passengers must be manually processed.
Passengers were being encouraged to arrive at airports early to allow additional time for processing. “Additional ABF staff have been deployed to process passengers and to minimise delays,” an Australian Border Force spokesman said on Monday.
A Melbourne Airport spokeswoman said travellers should still head to the airport as per their original plans.
“Within the terminal, we’ll be continuing to make public address announcements every few minutes, so please pay attention to these announcements for the latest updates,” she said in a statement to AAP.
“We’re extremely appreciative of the patience and good grace shown by passengers this morning and we would like to thank everyone for sticking with us during this period.”
Passenger Elena earlier told 3AW radio the issue is causing long delays at immigration at Melbourne Airport.
“About four planes have landed, I reckon there’s 500-600 people here.
“It’s just ridiculous.”
Pictures posted on social media showed long queues at Sydney and Melbourne airports for passengers arriving and trying to depart. Frustrated travellers described the scenes as “chaos” and “a circus”.Pictures posted on social media showed long queues at Sydney and Melbourne airports for passengers arriving and trying to depart. Frustrated travellers described the scenes as “chaos” and “a circus”.
Emergency supplies are coming out at Sydney Airport. Feel like we’re going to be here a while. pic.twitter.com/hLCI6W4JMLEmergency supplies are coming out at Sydney Airport. Feel like we’re going to be here a while. pic.twitter.com/hLCI6W4JML
Travelling out of @SydneyAirport international T1 today leave plenty of time. Renovations at immigration mean looooong queues. It’s a circus. pic.twitter.com/OmeP48v6VDTravelling out of @SydneyAirport international T1 today leave plenty of time. Renovations at immigration mean looooong queues. It’s a circus. pic.twitter.com/OmeP48v6VD
Just arrived at Melbourne Airport from Vietnam - absolutely HUGE queue to get through immigration, goes all the way through duty free. “Delays are expected as passengers need to be manually processed” #MelbourneAirport pic.twitter.com/V36CeYKTj1Just arrived at Melbourne Airport from Vietnam - absolutely HUGE queue to get through immigration, goes all the way through duty free. “Delays are expected as passengers need to be manually processed” #MelbourneAirport pic.twitter.com/V36CeYKTj1
Chaos at Melbourne airport! Hundreds trying to get through immigration machines down !! pic.twitter.com/lvdnbLKuQvChaos at Melbourne airport! Hundreds trying to get through immigration machines down !! pic.twitter.com/lvdnbLKuQv
“It seems as if all the e-machines have gone down, so they have to manually process everyone,” Elena, a passenger in Melbourne, told 3AW radio. “About four planes have landed, I reckon there’s 500 to 600 people here. It’s just ridiculous.”
Air transportAir transport
MelbourneMelbourne
SydneySydney
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