Check-in for most airlines affected by the global IT outage at Changi Airport is back to normal

SINGAPORE – Check-in operations for most airlines at Changi Airport that were affected by a global technology outage on July 19 have returned to normal, although long queues were still seen at AirAsia counters.

In a Facebook update on the morning of July 20, operator Changi Airport Group (CAG) said a “small number” of airlines still require check-ins to be done manually.

CAG added: “Changi Airport is supporting these airlines with additional resources. We ask for the patience and understanding of affected passengers.”

Among the services affected were those of AirAsia. The Straits Times saw long queues at the low-cost airline’s counters at Changi Airport’s Terminal 4 on the morning of July 20 as check-ins had to be done manually.

Airlines were among the hardest hit by the technology outage, believed to have been caused by a faulty software update issued by cybersecurity services provider CrowdStrike. The US firm provides services to tens of thousands of businesses worldwide, including banks, offices and hospitals.

The Ministry of Digital Development and Information said that by 6 a.m. on July 20, most businesses affected by the power outage had restored their services to the public, including airline billing services, newspapers, radio and mail.

The ministry is closely monitoring the situation and will assist companies if necessary, it added.