New Computer Issue Delays British Airways Flights

Another computer issue for British Airways caused delays for flights out of London Heathrow and Gatwick Tuesday morning.

A spokesperson for the airline tells Travel Agent that customers are now being checked in as normal.

We are sorry for the temporary check in problems which caused some delays for our customers first thing this morning, a British Airways spokesperson said. Our staff are working flat out to help customers get away on their holidays.

The computer issue follows a massive IT outage that stranded thousands of customers over a busy Memorial Day travel weekend, prompting the airline to issue an estimated 47 million euros in refunds to passengers who had their flights canceled.

An investigation later determined that that outage had been caused by human error, when a worker disconnected power to the servers. After that, the resumption of power in an uncontrolled and uncommanded fashion damaged the airlines systems.

The airline is also in the midst of a long-running labor dispute with cabin crew represented by the Mixed Crew Unite union. Following a series of strikes that lasted throughout July, the union just called for a new walkout that is scheduled to last through August 15. British Airways has said that it will continue operating its normal flight schedule by operating certain flights on Qatar Airways, which owns part of British Airways parent company IAG.

Also of note to travel agents: the airline recently announced a new plan that will let travel agents avoid a new GDS fee set to take effect November 1. Travel agents who book through a newly launched new distribution capability (NDC) will be exempt from the fee. The NDC was developed in partnership with TPConnects, a level 3 certified travel aggregator with the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The NDC also allows travel agents to book flights on Iberia and Lufthansa Group flights without a GDS surcharge.

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