A cyberattack on a check-in and boarding system provider has caused disruptions at several major European airports, including London’s Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, leading to flight delays and cancellations on Saturday.
Collins Aerospace, which provides software systems for multiple airlines worldwide, is experiencing technical issues that have affected departing passengers, Heathrow Airport said, issuing warnings of possible delays.
Brussels Airport and Berlin Airport were also impacted, according to separate statements. Collins Aerospace’s parent company, RTX, confirmed a “cyber-related disruption” affecting its software at selected airports, though it did not specify which ones.
The disruption primarily affected electronic customer check-in and baggage drop systems, though manual check-in and boarding procedures remain operational, RTX stated.
Brussels Airport noted that automated systems went offline on Friday night, creating significant flight schedule disruptions. Officials advised passengers traveling on Saturday to confirm their flights with airlines before heading to the airport.
Berlin Airport reported longer wait times at check-in due to the technical issue but said staff were working to resolve it quickly. Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s largest, and Zurich Airport were not affected.
Major airlines, including EasyJet, said operations were running normally and they did not expect further impacts for the day. Responses from Ryanair and IAG, the parent company of British Airways, were not immediately available.
Polish airports were reportedly unaffected, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of automated airport systems to cyberattacks and the need for contingency measures to minimize disruption.
