• Source:JND
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Europe Flight Delays: A cyberattack on a third-party service provider running critical check-in and boarding systems triggered large-scale disruption across several European airports on Saturday, including London’s Heathrow, Brussels Airport, and Berlin Brandenburg. The outage forced airlines to switch to manual processing, leading to long queues, delayed flights, and cancellations, according to airport operators.

According to Brussels Airport, the attack crippled automated passenger management tools, forcing airlines to fall back on manual procedures. “This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights,” the airport operator said in a statement posted online.

What Really Happened Across Europe?

• A cyberattack targeted a third-party service provider and was affecting airline check-in and boarding processes throughout Europe.

• Brussels Airport said automated systems were completely disabled, forcing manual check-in and boarding.

• Heathrow Airport found Collins Aerospace was the impacted provider and confirmed technical disruptions and delays.

• Berlin Brandenburg Airport cautioned travelers to expect longer delays as a result of the outage.

• Frankfurt and Zurich airports confirmed they were not affected by the cyberattack.

• Passengers at Heathrow were advised to arrive 2–3 hours before flights, depending on their destination.

• The extent of the cyberattack and the identity of the attackers have not yet been disclosed.

• Authorities stressed there was no evidence of passenger data theft so far.

Growing Concerns Over Aviation Cybersecurity

Social media posts from stranded passengers described confusion at terminals, with some complaining of missed connections. However, airport staff in both Brussels and London said customer assistance desks were being reinforced to handle the volume of inquiries. London’s Heathrow Airport acknowledged difficulties, calling the situation “a technical issue at a third-party supplier.” Passengers arriving early Saturday morning reported extended waiting times at security and check-in counters, though some flights managed to depart with delays.

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Berlin Brandenburg Airport issued a similar notice. A banner on its website advised that, “Due to a technical issue at a system provider operating across Europe, there are longer waiting times at check-in. We are working on a quick solution.” While authorities have not disclosed the identity of the compromised service provider, officials said cybersecurity teams were working to restore affected systems. “The service provider is actively working on the issue and trying to resolve the problem as quickly as possible,” Brussels Airport noted.

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The incident once again highlights the vulnerability of global aviation systems to cyberattacks. Over the past few years, airports and airlines have come under growing attempts to breach into the digital infrastructure that is essential for passenger transport and flight safety. As investigations go on, officials are likely to examine current cybersecurity measures to avoid similar extensive disruptions in the future.