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United Airlines' Tech Glitches Due to Aged IT Infrastructure?

Over time, the airline would like to create two data centers, or two network brain centers, so if one falters the other can kick in automatically.

(TNS) — United Airlines is combating technological glitches, like the one it experienced last week, with "sustained, focused investment and wariness, and a little prayer," its chief executive Oscar Munoz said Thursday.

During an interview with the Chronicle, he discussed the industry's overall struggle to modernize an aged IT infrastructure. Munoz said this infrastructure works well, but trying to fix it is like changing a tire on a moving car.

"You're constantly up and running, so how do you unplug something and plug something back in?" he asked.

Over time, he said the airline would like to create two data centers, or two network brain centers, so if one falters the other can kick in automatically. And the two can seamlessly switch back and forth.

"But that's a ways away," he said. "Not only from an investment perspective. The technology is not all there."

©2016 the Houston Chronicle Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.