CourierMail.com.au
VIRGIN Blue will return its troubled IT system next Wednesday but without many quick check-in services.
An IT glitch last Sunday sent the airline's computer system into meltdown, resulting in dozens of flights being cancelled.
Thousands of passengers were delayed on Sunday and Monday and many of them had to be put up in hotels overnight.
Virgin Blue customers faced more delays on Wednesday morning due to ongoing computer problems,
Virgin chief executive John Borghetti now says the company has an action plan to solve the IT problem.
"The initial problem with our primary operating system has been identified and solved,'' Mr Borghetti said.
"We are now making plans to revert to this system on Wednesday October 6.
However, there will be some changes for travellers checking in for travel on Wednesday.
They include online and telephone reservation services being unavailable from 9.00pm (AEDT) on Tuesday, October 5.
Check in for domestic flights will open two hours before the scheduled departure time on Wednesday and three hours for international flights.
Web check, Kiosk check-in and Check-mate will close at 8pm on Tuesday through to 5am on October 7.
Web check-in, kiosk check-in, check-mate and the lounge check-in will be unavailable all day on Wednesday.
But all flights will operate as planned, Virgin said.
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COMMENT: If things go wrong again, will Jim Carden, chief of the BAC be prepared to act in the interests of democracy and allow the media into the Brisbane Terminal or will he condone the gestapo-like tactics of the Australian Federal Police last week, when they forced the media out of the terminal? Even though it might be embarrassing for Virgin Blue to be forced to undergo the gaze of television cameras, the Brisbane Airport Corporation has a duty to the people of Queensland and Australia to ensure that the true story is told. Banishing the media is not the role of the AFP nor the BAC. At the end of the day, who runs the Brisbane Airport - Jim Carden or the AFP? Some might say, that is a very good question!
