Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia are among the regions affected by a global IT outage impacting airlines and businesses.
The disruption, linked to Microsoft’s Windows and cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, is causing delays and a shift to manual check-in processes at airports.
At Singapore’s Changi Airport, check-in for some airlines is being handled manually by airport staff, who are prioritising those with upcoming flights. Long queues were reported at Terminal 1 for Scoot flights, as self check-in machines were unavailable. To ease the wait, passengers are being offered snacks and water.
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific airline has also reported issues with self-service check-in facilities at Hong Kong International Airport. Passengers are advised to check in online or via the mobile app and get their boarding pass before heading to the airport.
Over in Malaysia, passengers at Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Sabah are reportedly facing difficulties checking in luggage for AirAsia flights. Additionally, the live feed of the stock exchange in Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia KLCI, is currently disrupted.
Travellers in Melbourne and Sydney are also facing delays due to the global IT issue. Some airlines at both airports are experiencing disruptions to their check-in procedures. Passengers flying out of these airports are advised to allow extra time for check-in and to contact their airline directly for the latest flight status information.
Sydney Airport has also activated contingency plans, deploying additional staff to terminals to assist with the increased passenger flow.
An Australian national, he brings a wealth of experience to his first general manager posting. Most recently, he served as the hotel manager at W Sydney, overseeing the pre-opening phase of the world’s largest W Hotel.
Based in Bali and originally from the Netherlands, Dolman brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from working in the hospitality and travel industry for well over a decade.
Cardamom Tented Camp ecolodge in Cambodia has launched its own beer with the tagline Your Beer Keeps the Forest Standing, where profits go towards conservation work at Botum Sakor National Park.
The Cardamom Mountains Steam beer, now available at the ecolodge, help fund the conservation work of 16 forest rangers who protect 18,000 hectares of surrounding lowland evergreen forest in Cambodia’s largest national park.
Since opening in 2017, the camp has operated with the slogan Your Stay Keeps the Forest Standing. Camp manager Allan Michaud shared: “Now it’s the turn of beer drinkers to take one for the team and do their bit for conservation.”
The hybrid Steam beer was selected by Michaud after tasting sessions with Yuki Aotani, founder of Flowers microbrewery in Phnom Penh. The slightly hoppy beer – already a hit with camp guests – is 5.2 per cent strong and sells in 330ml bottles for US$4.50 at the lodge’s small riverside restaurant – the Steam beers sold at the camp are in previously used 330ml bottles given to the brewery by the camp.
Each month a percentage of income from beer sales and guest stays help forest rangers reduce illegal poaching, land grabs and riverbank sand dredging. This summer the camp added two new Wildlife Alliance forest rangers bringing the total to 16 now on patrol.
Cardamom Tented Camp also sells locally made Ibis beer – profits from which are used to protect the rare Ibis bird in Cambodia – and craft beers made by the Stonehead brewery, also in Phnom Penh.
With illegal hunting down by a factor of about 90 per cent over the last seven years or so, sightings of rare wildlife such as Asian elephants, silver langurs, smooth-coated otters and leopard cats have increased in the lowland forest around Cardamom Tented Camp.
Keeping it local is important for Michaud, who said: “With local Khmer dishes also on our menu, we make it easy for our guests to enjoy food and drink that reflect the best of Cambodia.
“Almost everything we do at the camp helps conservation of the forest and supports local suppliers.”