Passengers at several European airports continue to face flight disruptions for a second consecutive day following a cyberattack that affected check-in systems. Brussels Airport, the most impacted, had to cancel around 140 departing flights scheduled for Monday due to delays in receiving a secure check-in system update from a U.S.-based software provider. The airport had already canceled 25 outbound flights on Saturday and 50 on Sunday.
The cyberattack, which started late Friday, caused chaos at airports in Berlin, Brussels, and London, leading to check-in process delays and forcing airline staff to resort to manual methods like handwriting boarding passes and using backup laptops. The disruption was attributed to a software issue with Collins Aerospace, a U.S.-based company that facilitates passenger check-in, boarding pass printing, and luggage dispatch services in airports across Europe.
While the European Commission assured that aviation safety and air traffic control remained unaffected, the source of the cyberattack remains under investigation. Experts suggest that the attackers could be hackers, criminal groups, or state entities. Despite signs of improvement at London’s Heathrow and Berlin’s Brandenburg airports, Brussels Airport continues to experience significant disruptions.
The airport announced the cancellation of half of its scheduled departing flights for Monday until the check-in system is rectified. The parent company of Collins Aerospace, RTX Corp., has yet to comment on the situation. Brussels Airport managed to operate 85% of its scheduled departures with the help of additional staff and the availability of self-bag drop and online check-in services.
Passengers were advised to check their flight statuses before heading to the airports and utilize alternative check-in options. The cyberattack only affected check-in desk computer systems, not self-service kiosks. Airlines and airport authorities are working together to minimize the impact on flight operations and restore normalcy. Heathrow Airport apologized for the delays and ensured that most flights continued to operate smoothly.
Brandenburg Airport urged passengers to use online check-in and self-service options to mitigate longer waiting times caused by the service provider’s systems outage. The airports remain vigilant in resolving the cyberattack fallout and ensuring minimal disruption to passenger travel plans.