BRUSSELS: A large-scale cyberattack on a critical third-party service provider for check-in and boarding systems has disrupted operations across several major European airports, including London’s Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin. The breach forced airlines to fall back on manual procedures, leading to widespread delays, long queues, and flight cancellations, airport authorities confirmed on Saturday.
Brussels Airport reported that the attack rendered automated systems inoperable, restricting staff to manual check-in and boarding a process significantly slowing passenger flows. Heathrow, one of the busiest airports in the world, also warned travelers of major delays linked to what it described as “a technical issue” at a European-wide service provider.
Berlin Airport issued a banner alert on its website, acknowledging the disruption: “Due to a technical issue at a system provider operating across Europe, there are longer waiting times at check-in. We are working on a quick solution.”
Passengers with flights scheduled for Saturday and the weekend were strongly advised to reconfirm their bookings with airlines before leaving for the airport, given the uncertainty around departure schedules.
While Frankfurt Airport confirmed that its operations remain unaffected, the incident underscores the vulnerability of Europe’s aviation infrastructure to cyberattacks. Experts warn that coordinated cyber disruptions could have cascading effects on air travel, supply chains, and even regional security if not swiftly addressed.
This latest attack comes amid growing concerns over the resilience of critical infrastructure in Europe, with governments and aviation regulators expected to launch urgent reviews into cybersecurity protocols for airport systems.
“This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights,” the operator said in a statement published on its website.
“The service provider is actively working on the issue and trying to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.”
-WNN
