Computer glitch disrupts United flights

Hundreds of passengers at several U.S. airports are stranded after a glitch with United Airlines' computer systems.NEW: Airline spokesman says "network connectivity issue" is to blameNEW: United allows passengers to book new flights without penaltyOutage shuts down departures, reservation system for several hoursProblem creates long lines of stranded passengers in U.S. airports

(CNN) -- A computer problem that grounded United Airlines flights across the country has been repaired, the airline announced early Saturday.

The Chicago-based airline blamed the computer malfunction on "a network connectivity issue" Friday night.

The problem, "was resolved through troubleshooting procedures and restored at midnight," wrote United Airlines spokesman Charles Hobart in an e-mail to CNN.

"The airline issued a waiver policy permitting customers on affected flights to cancel or rebook their itineraries without penalty," Hobart said. "United apologizes for the disruption caused to travelers at affected airports and is re-accommodating travelers where necessary."

The computer malfunction brought United's system of scheduling departures, reservations and processing passengers to a halt at airports across the United States. The problem left passengers stranded for hours in grounded planes, airport lobbies and security lines.

Michael Goldenthal, who was on an airplane at O'Hare when the problem occurred, said it became apparent something was wrong as the flight was taxiing.

"We were on the runway when the pilot came on the P.A. and said they had lost contact with the company computer system which measured the weight of the plane," Goldenthal said.

Goldenthal said the aircraft taxied around for nearly an hour and then returned to the gate for additional fuel. But passengers were not allowed to get off.

Long lines of people could be seen at airports in cities across the country, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver. Many passengers sat on the floor as they waited.

Chris Hou and his wife, Jennifer, became stranded at Los Angeles International Airport while waiting on a connecting flight to Denver.

"We're pretty easy going people. We travel a lot. We understand that problems happen," Chris Hou told CNN. "I just think there would be a little more information. All they say is 'we have a computer problem.' By the time you get to hour three, it gets a little frustrating."

Hou told CNN less than a hour later that he and his wife were about to board a plane to Denver.

CNN's Greg Morrison contributed to this report

CNN

Chilean ash cloud disrupts New Zealand-Australian flights (Reuters)

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – A cloud of ash from an erupting volcano in Chile has drifted over the Atlantic and Indian oceans to lie over southern parts of New Zealand and Australia, disrupting air travel.

Australian carrier Qantas Airways said it had canceled 22 flights on Sunday while Air New Zealand said it was flying at lower altitudes and different courses to avoid the ash, and did not anticipate any disruption.

The volcano in the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle chain in Chile has been erupting for the past week, throwing air travel in South America into chaos, as it spewed ash high into the atmosphere.

Qantas said it had canceled flights to the island state of Tasmania and destinations in New Zealand's South Island.

"We believe it is just too dangerous," spokeswoman Emma Kearns told Reuters.

Air New Zealand said its aircraft would fly at the lower altitude of 18,000 feet to remain below the ash cloud or else take a different flight path to avoid it.

The fine particles of ash, which pose a danger to aircraft bodies and engines, were carried east by the prevailing winds to sit between 20,000 and 35,000 feet across southern parts of Australia and New Zealand, said Steve Sherburn, a vulcanologist at New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences.

The eruption, he said, was particularly strong and able to keep throwing ash particles in to the atmosphere.

"If the eruption keeps going on, it could affect us for some time," Sherburn said.

(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate; Editing by Ron Popeski)

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