A wave of cyber-attacks and technical failures, which started on the night of Friday, September 19, and continued into Saturday, September 20, has disrupted several airports across Europe. The crisis began with an announcement from Brussels Airport stating it was hit by a cyber-attack.
The Root of the Problem: A Single Service Provider
Statements from Brussels and Berlin airports point to a single service provider, Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems, as the source of the issue. While Brussels Airport explicitly labeled the event a cyber-attack, Berlin and London Heathrow Airports referred to it as a more general “technical issue.” This has led to major disruptions in air traffic across the continent.
Situation at the Airports and Advice for Passengers
Due to these problems:
- Brussels Airport: The systems are being operated manually, causing significant delays and flight cancellations. The airport has advised passengers to only come to the airport if their flight is confirmed and to check their flight status in advance.
- Heathrow Airport: The system failure has resulted in long waiting times for check-in and boarding. Passengers are advised to contact their airlines before traveling and to not arrive at the airport too early.
- Berlin Airport: The technical issue has caused long queues at check-in. The airport has announced that it is working on a quick solution.
Authorities are working hard to resolve the problem. The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of Europe’s civil aviation infrastructure to cyber-attacks and technical failures. Passengers are strongly advised to follow official announcements from their airlines and respective airports before their planned travel.
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This post was published on 20 September 2025 1:54 pm