European Airports Race to Fix Check-In Glitch Post-Cyberattack

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Several major European airports, including London’s Heathrow—Europe’s busiest—scrambled on Sunday to resume normal operations following a cyberattack that disrupted automated check-in systems. The breach targeted Collins Aerospace, a check-in and boarding system provider owned by RTX, leading to chaos at Heathrow, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, and Brussels Airport, where travelers experienced long lines, flight cancellations, and delays.

By early Sunday morning, disruptions had decreased significantly, with airport officials and data indicating that delays were still occurring but fewer in number. Authorities confirmed they are investigating the cyberattack’s origin. Brussels Airport canceled 45 of its 257 scheduled departures for the day but managed to keep delays manageable through operational adjustments. A spokesperson mentioned delays ranged from 30 to 90 minutes and that the duration of disruptions remains uncertain.

One Brussels passenger reported minimal disruption, describing their experience as “business as usual,” though acknowledging some travelers without online check-in or checked baggage might face longer waits.

This incident marks the latest in a string of cyberattacks impacting sectors such as healthcare and automotive manufacturing. For example, Jaguar Land Rover had to halt production due to a breach, and Marks & Spencer suffered hundreds of millions of pounds in losses. RTX labeled the event a “cyber-related disruption,” noting that it affected its MUSE software, which services multiple airlines. The company did not respond immediately to inquiries on Sunday.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport has confirmed ongoing issues but assured the public that it is working with RTX to resolve the matter. A manual workaround is in place, and there are currently no significant delays or cancellations. Heathrow also reported ongoing efforts early Sunday to recover from the check-in system outage, emphasizing that the majority of flights continued to operate smoothly.

An aviation data analysis by Cirium indicated that Heathrow’s delays are minimal, Berlin is experiencing moderate delays, and Brussels has seen significant delays that are gradually decreasing.