A cyberattack targeting a key service provider for airport check-in and boarding systems has caused significant disruptions across multiple major European airports. This incident led to flight delays and cancellations, particularly impacting Brussels, Berlin, and London Heathrow airports. Authorities in Brussels took the step of asking airlines to cancel half of their scheduled departing flights for Sunday, September 22, to manage the ongoing issues and prevent further passenger inconvenience.
Key Takeaways
- A cyberattack hit a service provider for airport check-in and boarding systems.
- Brussels, Berlin, and London Heathrow airports experienced significant disruptions.
- Brussels Airport requested airlines cancel 50% of Sunday's departing flights.
- The affected service provider confirmed a "cyber-related disruption" to its software.
- Manual check-in operations are being used to mitigate the impact.
Widespread Impact on European Air Travel
The cyberattack, which occurred on Friday night, September 20, affected the essential infrastructure used by several European airports. This disruption specifically targeted the systems responsible for passenger check-in and boarding processes. The immediate consequence was a cascade of operational issues, leading to numerous flight delays and cancellations throughout Saturday, September 21.
Brussels Airport was among the most heavily affected hubs. On Saturday evening, airport officials confirmed that the disruptions would continue into Sunday. To mitigate the impact on travelers and prevent long queues, the airport made a critical decision. A spokesperson for Brussels Airport stated, "Brussels Airport has asked airlines to cancel half of the scheduled departing flights on Sunday 21 September in order to avoid long queues and late cancellations."
Fact: Flight Cancellations
According to aviation data provider Cirium, by Saturday evening, 29 departures and arrivals had been canceled across Heathrow, Berlin, and Brussels airports due to the cyberattack.
Technical Issues at Major Hubs
Beyond Brussels, other significant European airports also reported issues stemming from the cyberattack. London's Heathrow Airport issued a warning about delays caused by a "technical issue" with a third-party supplier. Similarly, Berlin's Brandenburg Airport displayed a banner on its website, informing passengers of "longer waiting times at check-in" due to a "technical issue at a system provider operating across Europe."
The scope of the disruption expanded further when Dublin Airport announced that both it and Cork Airport, Ireland's second-largest airport, were experiencing minor impacts from the same issue. These widespread reports highlighted the critical interconnectedness of aviation systems and the potential for a single point of failure to affect multiple locations.
"There was a cyberattack on Friday night, 19 September, against the service provider for the check-in and boarding systems, affecting several European airports, including Brussels Airport," a statement from Brussels Airport's website confirmed.
Service Provider Confirms Disruption
Collins Aerospace, identified as the service provider for the affected systems, confirmed the cyber-related disruption. The aerospace firm acknowledged that its MUSE software, used in select airports for check-in and baggage drop, had been compromised. A representative for Collins Aerospace informed AFP about the incident, specifying that Brussels, Berlin, and London Heathrow were among the affected locations.
The company clarified that the impact was primarily "limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop." Importantly, Collins Aerospace noted that these issues could be "mitigated with manual check-in operations." This suggests that airports could revert to manual processes to continue operations, albeit at a slower pace and with increased potential for delays.
Understanding Airport Systems
Airport operations rely heavily on sophisticated software systems for various functions, including flight scheduling, passenger check-in, baggage handling, and air traffic control. A disruption to any of these core systems can have far-reaching consequences, affecting thousands of passengers and flights across an entire region.
Ongoing Efforts and Passenger Advisories
Airport authorities and the service provider are actively working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Despite these efforts, the scale of the cyberattack's impact necessitated proactive measures to manage passenger flow and expectations. Brussels Airport, for instance, advised all passengers with flights scheduled for Saturday to confirm their travel status directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.
The incident underscores the increasing vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber threats. This event occurred just one day after the airport in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, reported that its website had been hacked. While the exact perpetrators of the European airport cyberattack remain unknown, the incident serves as a reminder of the constant digital security challenges faced by global transportation networks.
- Passengers are advised to check flight status with airlines before traveling.
- The service provider is working to restore affected systems.
- Manual check-in options are available at some airports.
The situation remains fluid, and travelers planning to fly through any of the affected European airports in the coming days should monitor official airport and airline communications for the latest updates.
