---
title: "Travellers face flight delays at Changi Airport due to 2.5-hour disruption to passenger processing system"
url: "/singapore-seen/travellers-face-flight-delays-changi-airport-due-2-5-hour-disruption-passenger-processing-system"
published: "2026-11-02T06:37:42.000Z"
updated: "2026-11-02T06:37:42.000Z"
section: "Singapore Seen"
authors: ["Cherry Tan"]
tags: ["Singapore Seen","flight delay","Changi airport","travel","terminal 4"]
---

# Travellers face flight delays at Changi Airport due to 2.5-hour disruption to passenger processing system

*Long queues formed at Changi Airport on Nov 2 due to system issues.*

Travellers looking to depart Singapore on Nov 2 encountered flight delays, owing to a global disruption in the passenger processing system used by several airlines.

In response to Stomp’s queries, Changi Airport Group (CAG) confirmed that a global disruption in Advance Passenger Processing (APP) systems was reported at around 8.30am on Nov 2.

The APP is a two-way interface between an airline’s Departure Control System (DCS) and a country’s immigration databases, allowing real-time screening of passengers against watchlists and visa requirements.

The global disruption led to some airlines at Changi Airport managing check-in procedures manually, including the issuance of boarding passes.

## Long queues ‘everywhere’ at Terminal 4

A Singaporean living and working in South Korea, who requested to remain anonymous, shared that he had arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 4 at 8.30am to check in for his Korean Air flight, but was greeted with “long queues everywhere”.

The man claimed that no announcement was made on the intercom. “No sign was put up anyway and staff was just randomly informing certain passengers,” he explained.

“So many people were worried as no one knew anything, so they went to ask the staff and the airport staff told them,” he added.

![Travellers face flight delays at Changi Airport due to 2.5-hour disruption to passenger processing system](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/183a4d97ca3434e62a797d51631d48d8a0793bcbb2567cf2ff099d4ccda918af)
*The Stomper said he arrived at 8.30am to check in for his 10.30am flight, but was met with “long queues everywhere”.*

That said, he felt that the situation was not too chaotic.

“It was initially very messy because no one knew what was going on, but it wasn’t chaotic in the sense that everyone was queuing quietly,” the Stomper shared.

He was anxious at first when his check-in time had passed and the queues remained long. However, he believed that all passengers would eventually be checked in since there were many of them waiting.

The Sky Priority holder said that it usually takes him around 10 minutes to get to his gate upon arriving at the terminal. This time, however, it took him more than one and a half hours.

“I arrived at around 8.30am and only managed to check in (my) bag at around 10am plus,” he said. Consequently, his flight was also delayed by an hour, from 10.30am to 11.30am.

CAG shared that other airlines were similarly affected by the disruption.

Based on Stomp’s preliminary checks, international travellers at Melbourne Airport also encountered similar delays, with queues stretching up to 200 metres long.

## CAG rendered on-ground assistance

During this period, Changi Airport ground staff assisted airlines and passengers on the ground, shared CAG. 

The airport confirmed that check-in processes for all affected airlines at Changi Airport returned to normal at around 11am.