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Air Canada software outage briefly halts computerized check-ins

Air Canada experienced software problems on Tuesday that briefly halted all computerized checking-in at airports across the country.

Airline says issue has been resolved after multiple airports affected

Air Canada experienced a system-wide software outage on Tuesday. (CBC)

Air Canada experienced software problems on Tuesday that briefly halted all computerized check-ins at airports across the country.

The outage Tuesday emerged at around 11 a.m. ET and made it impossible to check in or board planes via the airline's check-in system at any airports in Canada. The online reservation system was also affected.

Customers at Vancouver airport lined up while the check in system was down on Tuesday. (Glen Kugelstadt/CBC)

The airline put out a statement around noon saying that the computer issue had been fixed, but reports persisted that the outage continued well into the afternoon. 

Around 1 p.m. ET, the airline confirmed the outage was continuing, adding that "some flights may be delayed as a result."

In some airports, passengers were being checked in manually and issued hand-written boarding passes

Signs such as this one in Edmonton showed the airline trying to check in passengers by hand while the computer outage continued. (Briar Stewart/CBC)

By 2 p.m., however, the airline said the issue has been fixed. Several Air Canada flights departing from its hub at Pearson International Airport in Toronto and Montreal's Trudeau International Airport were cancelled, however.

"We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate our customers' patience as we work to resolve this issue and get everyone on their way as quickly as possible," spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said in a statement to CBC News.

There's still no information as to what, specifically, caused the glitch and what the airline did to remedy the problem.

With files from The Canadian Press