This current problem is merely a manifestation of a bigger problem at BA namely their outsourcing of development and support. Major chunks of BA's IT team have recently been given the heave-ho and their work exported, leaving them short of local experience. At the same time, major "upgrades" have been implemented making them totally reliable on a vastly reduced support team. Many of their "experts" are now in the Indian subcontinent but they can't catch a plane because the, erm... the IT systems are down. But they have saved a fortune in IT costs.