ANA Computer Problems Cause Chaos at Airports Across Japan

A system glitch earlier this week forced the country’s largest airline to grind to a halt, stranding passengers and testing tempers.

Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) experienced widespread computer problems on Tuesday, forcing the carrier to cancel more than 120 domestic flights.

The glitch affected the airline’s online check-in, reservations, sales, seat selection and boarding facilities as well as its payment system.

The carrier initially identified the problem at approximately 8:20 a.m. on Tuesday and posted a notice on its website, apologizing for what it called a “system malfunction.” While the problem was mostly resolved by the late morning, ANA intimated that there were still residual system issues to deal with.

Spokeswoman Natsuki Uota clarified the matter to Japan Today, saying, “The boarding procedure system recovered at 11:30 a.m., but we still have trouble with reservations and ticket sales.”

Tens of thousands of passengers were stranded at 49 airports around the country, with Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) hardest hit by the glitch. Here at ANA’s main hub, dozens of flights were canceled or delayed and an additional four carriers that also share the airline’s computer system were affected by the glitch.

Kyodo News Agency reported that Starflyer, Airdo, Solaseed Air and Ibex Airlines were left entirely unable to operate.

With many across the country attempting to travel at the end of a three-day holiday weekend, the timing of the glitch was unfortunate. Local media outlets reported long lines and scenes of frustration as passengers attempted to arrange for later, alternative flights.

By 3 p.m. that afternoon, ANA estimated that despite being largely resolved, the malfunction had curtailed the plans of approximately 16,100 travelers across the country.

The carrier says that it is currently investigating the cause of the system fault.

[Photo: Koji Harada/Kyodo News via AP JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT]