Flights at some of Europe’s busiest airports have been disrupted on Saturday following a cyberattack that targeted check-in and boarding systems.
Operations at airports in London, Brussels, and Berlin were among those affected by the disruption to software that rendered automated systems inoperable.
London’s Heathrow Airport said Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for airlines, faced a technical issue that may cause delays.
Newsweek has contacted RTX Corporation, of which Collins Aerospace is a subsidiary, for comment on Saturday.
Why It Matters
The cyberattack affecting American-based company Collins Aerospace has caused delays and cancellations across Europe, affecting millions of air travelers.
The New York Times reported, citing data from FlightAware, that there were 101 delays and five cancellations at Berlin-Brandenburg, 139 delays and seven cancellations at Brussels and 201 delays and 10 cancellations at Heathrow as of early Saturday afternoon.
What To Know
RTX said in a statement there had been a “cyber-related disruption” to its MUSE (Multi-User System Environment) software in select airports which it was “actively working to resolve” and restore full functionality.
Brussels Airport said the cyberattack meant passengers had to be checked in and boarded manually on Friday.
Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport also reported longer waiting times due to the issue, while Heathrow Airport warned on Saturday of delays following a cyberattack affecting an electronic check-in and baggage system.
Heathrow Airport advised travelers not to arrive more than three hours before a long-haul flight or two hours before a domestic service. The BBC reported that British Airways is operating as normal using a back-up system, but most other airlines operating from Heathrow had been affected.
Aviation and travel expert Paul Charles told Sky News that the disruption in several European airports was due to a “very clever cyberattack” given the coordinated nature of airports and airlines affected.
What People Are Saying
Collins Aerospace said in a statement: “The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations.”
Heathrow Airport said in a statement: “Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally, is experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers.”
Travel journalist Simon Calder told Times Radio: “It’s a pretty grim day, I’m afraid, to be an airline passenger.”
What Happens Next?
There has so far been no public comment about the nature or origin of the cyberattack.
RTX has said that efforts were being made to solve the technical problem, with Charles telling Sky News that “there will be deep concerns” about the security vulnerabilities the attack highlighted.