Server Crash Stalls Operation in JFK Airport

John F. Kennedy Airport has witnessed massive flight delays on May 29 following a cyber crash during one of the busiest travel holidays of the year. The server error has led to stall operations at Terminal Seven and eventually caused cancellation of flights for hundreds of passengers.

However, the British Airways operated terminal appears to be the lone one that fall victim to the computer outage. Qantas, Iberia, Cathay Pacific and other airlines operating in the same terminal have witnessed similar fate. Of the affected airline companies, Cathay Pacific has served explanation letters to its customers citing computer boarding error as the reason for the unintentional delay.  

During the stalled period, the terminal has remained pretty packed and cramped with the stranded passengers, reports CBS News quoting a passenger Mike Priestley. Priestly has intended to fly for London with a British Airways flight at 9.55 pm. He has been witnessed to remain grounded even after an hour of the scheduled time.

Airline staffs have been found issuing hand written boarding passes and baggage claim tickets. The server crash has taken place at around 4 pm ET and hasn’t been resolved for hours, reports CNN quoting Neal Buccino, a spokesman for the Port Authority. British Airways has confirmed returning to normalcy later on.

However, the system failure hasn’t affected airport security operations of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) even when uncertainty over fixing the problem has gloomed the entire Terminal Seven. The server crash has allegedly taken place as an ominous consequence of cutting-back in TSA screening staff, reports Sky News.

British Airways has sought apologies through a statement for the inconveniences of its customers due to a system failure at JFK airport in New York. Its staffs have worked hard to assist customers to ensure flight departure during the outage. According to Port Authority’s information, around 1,500 customers have been witnessed to stand in queue for checking in.

During early Monday, the average flight delay in JFK has reportedly been 35 minutes counting all terminals of the airport. Though British Airlines have claimed for returning to normalcy, its staffs have been witnessed to issue manual boarding passes even in the morning of Monday. Airport authority has advised passengers to expect further delays and larger crowds. 

Disney Rival’s Theme Park Ticket Price Still Remains Far From The Reach of Chinese Middle Class

Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin has officially inaugurated Dalian Wanda Group Co.’s Wanda Cultural Tourism City on May 28 in Nanchang city of southeastern Jiangxi province. Wanda City appears to be the first of the company’s 15 planned theme park and entertainment projects in China apparently to compete with US giant Disney.

The theme park, developed with an estimated cost of $3 billion (just over £2 billion), features rides, shopping centers and an aquarium. The inauguration draws attraction since Disney is expected to open its own theme park in Shanghai during next month.   

The amusement facility includes China-themed Park built with cost of $800 million, bamboo forests and a gigantic indoor shopping mall. Wanda City also claims to offer the world’s largest ocean park. Wanda property group has invested heavily in the film and cinema business with a view to get triumphant over Disney in the Chinese market while representing itself as a global entertainment brand, reports BBC.

The complex is expected to attract some 10 million visitors a year, reads an email statement from Wanda group. Disney’s yet to be inaugurated lone theme park won’t be a match for Wanda, commented Wang recently. Highlighting his Group’s plan for opening 15 new theme parks, he has also commented in a China Central Television show that ‘one tiger is no match for a pack of wolves’.

Wanda appears in a tug of war with Disney over stakes in China’s $160 billion tourism industry. Chinese government expects the industry to grow double within 2020 ignoring the fact of ever growing middle class segment. Disney enjoys decades’ long experience in operating theme parks and is already familiar in the Chinese market with the Hong Kong Disneyland inaugurated in 2005, according to a report published in Bloomberg.

Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties, the power house of Wang’s empire operates more than 135 malls across China and accounts for two-third of Wanda’s revenue. The group has been gradually increasing its overseas investments through acquiring U.S. studio Legendary Entertainment and American theater chain Carmike Cinemas.

‘Keeping ticket prices lower than Disney’ may be a probable business trick for Wanda in attracting China’s middle class. The Nanchang theme park charges ¥198 for each ticket while Shanghai Disneyland is predicted to charge ¥370 from its inauguration date (June 16), reports Nikkei Asian Review.

Though relatively lower, the ticket price seems to be higher compared to the offering, comments Zhou Bo, 22 from Changsha city. He observes, the ticket price is at least 10 times higher than what he usually spends for recreations a day.

Apple Again Fights Copyright Lawsuit From Virntex Seeking More Damages

Virntex, an infamous patent-licensing firm has been mulling a Texas court to order Apple suspending its Facetime and iMessage services. The Texas based firm has incurred irreparable loss as a result of the tech giant’s action. Earlier in February, a jury has hold Apple liable for infringing four of Virntex’s patents and has been ordered to pay $625million (£426million) to the plaintiff in penalty. Besides appealing for shutting down certain Apple services, Virntex also claims for another $190 million more to the previously awarded penalty.

Apparently dissatisfied with the earlier verdict, Virntex has been seeking refraining Apple from using its technologies in powering its video and text chat apps. The lawsuit seeks verdict in its favor since the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has already acknowledged Virntex’s claim to the inventions. Apple challenges the appeal arguing the USPTO verdict has been challenged in a separate case before the Supreme Court, reports BBC.  

Virntex also appeals to the court for increasing the previous penalty amount by at least $190 million accusing Apple as a ‘Poster Child’ for unreasonable litigation tactics. The fight between Apple and Virntex centering patent right over FaceTime and iMessage has been initiated since 2012. In the first lawsuit, Apple has been ordered to pay $368.2 million in damages which has been over thrown later on with order for retrial. The retrial has ended in February this year where Apple has repeatedly offered for handing over FaceTime and iMessage services, according to a report published in 9To5Mac.

If Virntex appeal gets acknowledged by the court with order for injunction, it will compel Apple to shut the features under litigation or replace with suitable apps avoiding patent infringement. Virntex, a holding company with a small office in Nevada enjoys copyright of the patents which dates from 1998. It has acquired the patent right from the previous owner in 2006, reports Fortune.

Apple has declined to make comment on issue under litigation. However, he believes, the Virntex patents are invalid and also feels the necessity for reforming the patent laws. The lawsuit instigates a long time debate over ‘Patent Trolls’. The terminology is used to indicate shell companies that do not produce useful technologies while making quick bucks from lawsuits. Media companies have already portrayed Virntex as a ‘Patent Troll’, however the branding has been opposed by its CEO through his recent blog post.