British Airways travelers are suffering delays globally due to a computer glitch in the check-in systems, the latest in a string of technical failures to hit major international airlines. According to tracking service Flight aware, 157 BA flights were delayed, or 17 percent of its total flights and five were cancelled as of midday in London. "We've been in line for three hours," Erik Blanketed, told KGO-TV as he waited for his flight at San Francisco International Airport. "We've talked to the people who've offered us some cold water and some chips and sympathy." The airline apologized and said passengers are now being checked in at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports but that the process may be "a bit slower than usual." BA had to apologize already in July after computer glitches in check-in systems also delayed passengers. It began installing new systems last October and completed the rollout earlier this year. The company, which is part of the International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, says it would "encourage customers to check in online before they reach the airport." The airline's problems come barely a month after U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines Inc. suffered a global outage that caused it to cancel 2,300 flights, costing it $100 million in lost revenue. A fire and failure of a piece of equipment at Delta's Atlanta headquarters on August 8 had caused a massive outage of the airline's computer systems, leading to three days of heavy cancellations and delays.
