Air Canada reservation system shuts down

TORONTO, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- A major computer problem struck Air Canada's reservation system Friday triggering delays everywhere the carrier flies.

The reservation system went down at 4 a.m. EST forcing ticket agents to check all passengers in manually, The Canadian Broadcasting System reported.

The computer system appeared to be back up and running about 10:30 a.m. EST. By noon, the airline reported that delays were averaging just 40 minutes across Air Canada's network.

Toronto's Pearson International Airport was hardest hit with hundreds of frustrated passengers crowded into Terminal 1.

"There are hundreds and hundreds of people in lineups that are absolutely going nowhere," reported Catherine Clark, a producer for the CBC who was waiting for a flight early Friday morning. "It's total chaos out here."