A cyberattack has caused major disruption across European air travel, as key check-in and boarding systems at airports, including London’s Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin, were forced offline.
The incident, targeting airline systems provider Collins Aerospace, triggered delays, manual processing, and confusion for thousands of passengers as normal digital procedures became unavailable.
The technical issue was first flagged late Friday night, when Brussels Airport revealed a cyberattack on the provider that supports vital check-in infrastructure.
Collins Aerospace, a leading supplier for airlines and airports globally, confirmed it was working to resolve the ‘technical issue,’ with many airports experiencing difficulty processing departing passengers.
Heathrow promptly warned travelers of ongoing delays and urged all passengers to check flight status before traveling to the airport.
What Happened to Disrupt European Airport Operations?
The cyberattack hit Collins Aerospace, a global leader in aviation technology, and paralyzed automated check-in and boarding systems. With systems down, airports reverted to manual processing.
This led to extensive delays, flight cancellations, and increased pressure on airport staff to keep lines moving and assist stranded customers. The issue quickly spread, affecting key hubs and numerous regional airports that rely on the same IT systems for routine airline operations.
Passengers at Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin were instructed to arrive closer to departure times and expect longer waits at check-in counters. Some were unable to board flights as scheduled, while others had to wait for confirmation of new travel arrangements.
The disruption highlighted the deep interdependence of modern airports on centralized technology providers for seamless travel experiences.
Did you know?
Collins Aerospace provides check-in systems for over 300 airports globally, making it a critical node in international air travel.
Which Airports and Airlines Were Most Affected?
The outage primarily affected London's Heathrow, Brussels Airport, and Berlin Airport. Although several airlines, including Delta Air Lines and EasyJet, reported minimal impact and managed to continue operating, other carriers experienced fluctuating delays and a higher number of cancellations.
Airports in Poland and Germany’s Frankfurt Airport remained largely unaffected, according to local officials, reflecting variability in IT dependencies across the region.
Other airports and airlines quickly adapted, deploying additional staff to check-in desks and communicating closely with passengers.
While some airlines were able to switch to backup procedures or had localized redundancy, those most reliant on Collins Aerospace technology were worst affected by the attack.
How Did Airports Respond to the Cyberattack?
Airport authorities across Europe moved swiftly to limit chaos. Heathrow issued guidance for travelers to arrive no more than three hours before long-haul flights and two hours for short-haul trips, attempting to smooth passenger flow despite the disruption.
Additional staff were deployed in terminal areas to help with manual check-in and to answer passenger concerns.
Brussels Airport provided transparent updates online, explaining that only manual check-in and boarding were available due to the ongoing cyberattack.
Berlin made similar recommendations, warning of longer waiting times but reassuring travelers of efforts to find a quick technical fix.
All airports advised passengers to check the status of their flights frequently, emphasizing communication and passenger safety as top priorities.
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Were Some Airports and Airlines Spared from Impact?
Although the impact was region-wide, not all European airports were equally affected. Frankfurt Airport and several Polish airports, for instance, reported no significant issues.
The architecture of the IT system and the diversity of technology providers are likely responsible for this difference in exposure.
Airlines with more flexible or locally managed systems were able to restore some degree of automation, while those fully dependent on Collins Aerospace faced greater operational setbacks.
Airlines such as Delta and EasyJet proved resilient, continuing near-normal operations at affected airports.
This variability in disruption highlights the crucial importance of system redundancy, contingency planning, and diversified technology partnerships in the aviation industry.
What Are the Broader Implications for Aviation Security?
The incident underscores the vulnerabilities of aviation’s digital backbone and the pressing need for robust cybersecurity investment. As airports and airlines increasingly rely on centralized providers for everything from check-in to boarding and baggage handling, weaknesses in shared systems can threaten entire networks.
Experts and officials are calling for stronger safeguards and industry-wide coordination as cyberattacks grow in frequency and sophistication worldwide.
The challenge of keeping critical systems secure is likely to intensify as travel returns to pre-pandemic levels and airports become more digitized.
This latest attack serves as a chilling reminder of the stakes for travelers and the aviation industry alike and is expected to drive urgency for new investments in digital infrastructure and crisis response protocols.
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