A cyber breach targeting a provider of check-in and boarding systems has caused disruptions at several major airports in Europe, including London’s Heathrow, the continent’s busiest airport. The incident led to flight delays and cancellations on Saturday.
Collins Aerospace, a company that supplies systems to multiple airlines globally, is currently facing technical difficulties that are impacting departing passengers, according to Heathrow Airport. Similar disruptions were reported at Brussels Airport and Berlin Airport.
The parent company of Collins Aerospace, RTX, acknowledged a cyber-related issue affecting their software at select airports. The disruption primarily affects electronic customer check-in and baggage drop services, leading to the need for manual operations. RTX assured that efforts are underway to resolve the problem promptly.
The cyberattack has disabled automated systems, prompting airports to resort to manual check-in and boarding procedures. Brussels Airport disclosed that the incident occurred on Friday night, resulting in flight schedule disruptions, cancellations, and delays. As of now, ten flights have been canceled, with an average delay of one hour for departing flights.
Passengers with flights scheduled for Saturday were advised by affected airports to verify their travel arrangements with airlines before heading to the airport. Delta Air Lines stated that it expected minimal impacts on flights from the affected airports, as they had implemented measures to minimize disruptions.
Berlin Airport reported longer check-in waiting times and assured passengers that they were working on swift resolutions. Fortunately, Frankfurt Airport, the largest in Germany, remained unaffected, as confirmed by a spokesperson. Zurich Airport’s operations control center also confirmed that they had not experienced any impact from the cyber incident.
Contrary to the disruptions at other airports, EasyJet, a major European airline, confirmed that its operations were running smoothly and anticipated no flight disruptions for the remainder of the day. Meanwhile, Ryanair and British Airways’ parent companies did not provide immediate comments on the situation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski assured that there were no threats to Polish airports. British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander stated that she was closely monitoring the situation and receiving regular updates.