Airport strife hits Sydney again

By EUGENE BINGHAM and JASON COLLIE

A computer meltdown crippled Sydney Airport and delayed thousands of passengers again yesterday - less than four weeks before the Olympics.

Software controlling the x-ray scanning of luggage for explosives failed, causing the airport's new $A43 million ($55 million) system to shut down and some airlines to stack baggage in the main check-in areas.

Airport authorities switched to a backup computer system, but many bags had to be loaded by hand by unhappy baggage handlers.

Twenty flights were delayed and passengers at the Qantas checkin counters queued for about 45 minutes a time after the 6.50 am breakdown, which affected baggage for outgoing flights.

Software failures also dogged the computer system last month, delaying 6500 passengers, but Sydney Airport Authority spokesman Peter Gibbs said yesterday that he was confident it would be working in time for the Olympics next month.

The system has been brought online gradually and Mr Gibbs said: "We have to run it at real time. We cannot practise it because it has to be done in a fully functioning airport.

"This was the last piece of the jigsaw.

"We are working very hard and we are very confident we have the manpower and resources to ensure it is working well. It's best to find out now in the buildup rather than during or after the Olympics."

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