Year 2000 fix gets airborne

First in a series of airport checks completed

A worldwide project by airlines to beat the year 2000 problem has taken off, but with a slight tail-wind of criticism, writes Lisa Kelly.

The Geneva-based International Air Transport Association (Iata) completed its check of Bogota airport in Colombia last week, the first in a worldwide series of year-2000 airport health checks.

Iata is spending $19 million (#11.4m) creating a database for every major airport?s year 2000 compliance.

But Martin Potter, year 2000 programme manager for Virgin Atlantic, voiced concern that Iata had ?no teeth?. He said: ?I am concerned about Iata?s ability to validate and follow-up. At least they are doing something, but I am disappointed that the regulatory bodies around the world aren?t doing more.?

Ian Hugo, an advisor to millennium awareness group Taskforce 2000, said: ?It?s late, but then again everybody?s late.?

Thomas Windmuller, director of Iata?s year 2000 project, said South America was chosen to kick-start the project ?to make sure our logistics and methodology are in place before we roll the programme out in Europe and Asia Pacific?.

European and Asian airports should receive the final all-clear in April next year.