Thousands delayed as IT outage hits airports across Australia

Thousands delayed as IT outage hits airports across Australia

Thousands of international passengers have been delayed after an IT problem caused chaos across Australia’s international airports.

Australian Border Force (ABF) said in a statement this morning it was working to resolve an IT systems outage impacting both inbound and outbound international passengers.

“Additional staff have been deployed to help minimise delays. Passengers are encouraged to arrive early to allow additional time for processing,” the statement said.

Passengers are taking to Twitter to post pictures of massive ques at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airports, but the ABC reported every international airport in the country has been affected.

https://twitter.com/sydromanino/status/1122637081589628929

https://twitter.com/jwpm1977/status/1122618163642785792

SBS reported the delays were caused by SmartGate passport control machines which use facial recognition technology to check travellers identities combined with e-passports.

One passenger caught up in the delays posted on Twitter that Sydney Airport had begun to bring out emergency supplies.

“Emergency supplies are coming out at Sydney Airport. Feel like we’re going to be here a while,” the passenger said.

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