Cyberattack disrupts flight operations at London, Brussels, and other major European airports

A cyberattack targeting airline check-in and boarding systems has disrupted operations at multiple major European airports, including London Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin, leading to flight delays and cancellations. The incident, reported on Saturday, affected thousands of passengers across the continent.

Collins Aerospace, the US-based service provider responsible for the affected systems, confirmed ongoing technical issues. The company said its teams were actively working to resolve the problem and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

London Heathrow Airport warned departing passengers of likely delays and urged travelers to check their flight status before arriving at the airport.

Automated check-in and boarding systems were reportedly inoperable, forcing staff to manage passenger processing manually. Heathrow also highlighted the significant impact on the schedule and advised passengers to allow extra time.

Brussels Airport issued similar warnings, stating that staff had switched to manual processes to manage boarding. The airport confirmed that several flights were delayed or cancelled and that passenger experience was severely affected.

Passengers at Berlin Airport also faced extended waiting times and confusion due to the disruption. Airlines operating from these airports had to adjust schedules and communicate with passengers about revised departure times.

Authorities have not yet identified the perpetrators of the cyberattack. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source and scope of the breach. Airport and airline officials continue to coordinate with Collins Aerospace to restore full operational capacity.

The incident underscores the vulnerability of airport operations to cyber threats, especially as many critical systems rely on centralized digital service providers.

Travelers across Europe have been advised to monitor official airline communications closely and expect ongoing disruption until technical issues are fully resolved.