British Airways says it has fixed a computer problem that caused delays and long lines at numerous airports.
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BA has previously experienced long delays with its check-in systems at Gatwick and Heathrow.
According to tracking service Flightaware, 157 BA flights were delayed, or 17 per cent of its total flights, and five were cancelled as of midday in London.
Customers are being advised to try to arrive as early as possible and to check-in as normal, although Heathrow and Gatwick airports have been using manual back-up systems, which is slowing down the check-in process.
British Airways has been rolling out a new check-in system since previous year; a BA spokesperson described the check-in delays as “teething problems”.
British Airways said the computer issue had been resolved at London airports around 8am Tuesday local time, but warned delays would continue through the day. “The staff handled it very well”, she said.
Furious travellers complained of hours queuing at airports but the airline said it is not a worldwide problem as some passengers had described it.
It did not comment on social media reports of major delays at airports in San Francisco, Washington D.C. and Atlanta.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport were among those that appeared to be affected.
Passengers at airports in the Bahamas and Mexico also reported problems.
“We are sorry for the delay to their journeys”, the airline added.
‘In the meantime our outstations are doing all they can to support our passengers locally, and check-in has been enabled at some airports’. “The check-in system is now working and customers are being checked in as normal in London and overseas”.
To rectify the problem, British Airways resorted to issuing its customers handwritten boarding passes and baggage labels.
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British Airways has apologised after a computer outage caused travel chaos for thousands of passengers.
