28 June 2011
Air Astana
regrets to inform its passengers that the computerized check-in services have
not been available at the Almaty
International Airport
domestic check-in area and limited in the international check-in area as of 16:30,
27 June 2011 till 12.00, 28 June 2011. Failure of the computerized check-in services at the Almaty Airport led to up to two hours
delays of 38 flights.
Air Astana is awaiting an explanation from Almaty International
Airport.
Under the Check-In Registration Agreement
between the Almaty International
Airport and Air Astana, the support
for Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) used for check-in services is part of
the services that the Almaty
Airport provides and Air
Astana pays for.
Air Astana staff use this platform provided
by the Almaty International Airport
in order to perform check-in. Air Astana does not manage this platform or its
communication connections.
The interaction with the platform and
communication provider (SITA) is managed by the Almaty Airport. Previously SITA was completely managing the
platform at the airport terminals on behalf of the Almaty International
Airport. It is understood that starting from Jan 2011 Almaty International
Airport took over this maintenance
functionality of the terminal computers from SITA.
The Almaty International
Airport failed to follow
up with SITA effectively and could not resolve the problem quickly that started
on 16:30 on 27 June.
Air Astana experts have been urging and
communicating with the relevant parties through the night in order to resolve the
problem that occurred only at the Almaty
International Airport
but not at any other airports that the airline operates and make use of the
same system.
Air Astana
regrets the inconvenience caused to its passengers. Now computerized check-in services is
available at the Almaty
International Airport.
Air Astana will undertake all efforts in order to recover from the delays
caused by the unavailability of check-in services at the Almaty Airport.