Passengers at Adelaide Airport faced significant delays and mounting frustration after a critical check-in system failure brought operations to a standstill. The technical malfunction, which occurred during peak travel hours, left travellers queuing for hours as staff scrambled to implement manual processing.
What Went Wrong?
The airport's automated check-in systems reportedly crashed without warning, affecting multiple airlines simultaneously. Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion as ground staff attempted to manage the growing crowds with pen-and-paper alternatives.
Passenger Experiences
"We've been waiting over two hours just to drop our bags," one frustrated traveller told reporters. "There's no information about when the systems might come back online."
Families with young children and elderly passengers were particularly affected, with many forced to stand in lengthy queues without access to seating or refreshments.
Airport Response
Airport authorities issued a brief statement acknowledging the technical issues:
- Systems affected included both self-service kiosks and traditional check-in counters
- Engineers were working to restore full functionality
- Passengers were advised to allow extra time for check-in procedures
Important: While some systems were gradually restored, residual delays continued to affect departing flights throughout the day.
Broader Implications
This incident raises questions about:
- The resilience of airport IT infrastructure
- Contingency planning for system failures
- Communication protocols during disruptions
Aviation experts suggest this event may prompt reviews of backup systems at major airports nationwide.
