Thousands of passengers at major Japanese airports have been grounded after airline computer systems stopped working.

Japan airport delays

Passengers crowd at Haneda Airport in Tokyo following airline system problems Tuesday, March 22, 2016. Image by (Koji Harada/Kyodo News via AP) JAPAN OUT

The delays began in the morning, with All Nippon Airways posting a notice on its website apologising for delays and cancellations due to a “system malfunction”.

The airline said internet check-in, seat selection, new reservations, changes to reservations and payments were not available for domestic flights and it was trying to identify and fix the problem as soon as possible.

Major Japanese airports were crammed with thousands of passengers unable to take domestic flights Tuesday due to problems with airline computer systems.

Major Japanese airports were crammed with thousands of passengers unable to take domestic flights Tuesday due to problems with airline computer systems. Image by (Koji Harada/Kyodo News via AP) JAPAN OUT

The situation appeared to be worst at Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport, ANA’s main local hub. There, dozens of flights were listed on the airport’s flight update site as either delayed or cancelled. Four smaller airlines that use the same system – Starflyer, Airdo, Solaseed Air and Ibex Airlines – were also affected.

Tuesday morning ended a three-day holiday weekend in Japan, so there were likely to be more travellers than usual. Television news channels showed airports packed with frustrated passengers.

(Press Association)