On Saturday, a significant cyberattack targeted the check-in and boarding systems of several major European airports, causing notable disruptions to air traffic. Officials reported that while the initial impact appeared limited, many travelers experienced delays and cancellations.
The disruptions primarily impacted check-in and boarding processes at airports including Brussels, Berlin’s Brandenburg, and London’s Heathrow. As a result of the cyber incident, only manual check-in and boarding procedures were operational. Fortunately, many other European airports reported that their operations remained unaffected, minimizing the overall impact on air travel.
Brussels Airport released a statement confirming the cyberattack occurred on Friday night, September 19, targeting the service provider responsible for their check-in and boarding systems. Initially, the airport noted a “large impact” on flight schedules, which heightened concerns among travelers and airlines alike.
The cyberattack specifically involved Collins Aerospace, a company known for providing technology that assists passengers in checking in, printing boarding passes, and managing their luggage at kiosks. Collins Aerospace acknowledged a “cyber-related disruption” affecting its MUSE (Multi-User System Environment) software at select airports, indicating that the issue was not directly related to the airports or airlines themselves.
As the day progressed, the fallout from the cyberattack appeared to be contained. Brussels Airport spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli informed broadcaster VTM that by mid-morning, nine flights had been canceled, four had been redirected, and 15 experienced delays of an hour or more. However, the full extent and duration of the disruptions remained uncertain.
In Berlin, Axel Schmidt, head of communications at Brandenburg Airport, reported that no flights had been canceled due to the cyberattack by late morning, although he acknowledged that the situation could change. Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest, stated that the disruption had been “minimal” and confirmed that no flight cancellations were directly tied to the cyber incident, though details on flight delays remained undisclosed.
In light of the disruptions, affected airports urged travelers to check their flight status for updates and offered apologies for any inconvenience caused. Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX Corp. (formerly Raytheon Technologies), emphasized that they were “actively working to resolve the issue” and aimed to restore full functionality to their systems as quickly as possible.
The company reassured that the impact was limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop, and could be effectively managed through manual check-in operations. As this situation develops, travelers are advised to stay informed about their flight statuses and any further updates from the respective airports.
