On Saturday, significant delays were reported in several major European travel hubs due to technical issues with check-in systems. These issues have been attributed to a suspected cyberattack affecting three key airports: Berlin-Brandenburg, Brussels Airport, and Heathrow in London. Passengers departing from these airports faced considerable disruptions as staff worked to manage the situation.
Both Heathrow and Berlin-Brandenburg identified the source of the problem as stemming from Collins Aerospace, an American technology company that specializes in aviation and defense systems. The company provides critical check-in and boarding solutions for numerous airports, and its systems were reportedly experiencing a disruption. The parent company, RTX, acknowledged the issue in a statement, indicating a “cyber-related disruption” affecting its operations.
In response to the technical difficulties, both airports implemented manual check-in procedures. RTX stated that airport personnel could navigate around the issues by facilitating manual check-ins, allowing some operations to continue despite the disruption. Berlin-Brandenburg confirmed that the cyberattack occurred on Friday evening but clarified that the airport itself was not directly targeted.
According to FlightAware, a flight tracking website, the impact was significant, with reports of numerous delays and cancellations: 101 delays and five cancellations at Berlin-Brandenburg, 139 delays and seven cancellations at Brussels Airport, and 201 delays along with ten cancellations at Heathrow by early afternoon in Europe. The disturbances led to considerable congestion in the departure areas, particularly at Heathrow’s Terminal 3, where staff utilized megaphones to manage crowds of waiting passengers.
As the situation unfolded, airports and airlines continued to face challenges in maintaining flight schedules. The expectation was that the issues would “heavily impact the flight schedule,” leading to further delays and cancellations throughout the day. Stakeholders remain focused on restoring full functionality to ensure a smoother travel experience for passengers.
