Disruptions at Brussels, London and Berlin airports due to cyberattack

A cyberattack on a company that runs check-in and boarding systems has caused disruptions at several European airports, with some flights delayed or canceled in Brussels, Berlin and London's Heathrow, Reuters reported on Saturday.

Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski announced on Saturday that there are currently no signals of a threat to airports in Poland.

The attack on Collins Aerospace paralyzed automated systems, meaning passenger check-in and boarding procedures could only be carried out manually.

“This has a significant impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations,” the airport operator stressed in a statement on its website.

Berlin-Brandenburg Airport reported that its passenger check-in systems were attacked on Friday evening, leading to longer queues and delays for travelers. The airport itself was not the target of the cyberattack, it emphasized.

Brussels Airport also confirmed the cyberattack.

Heathrow, the UK's largest airport, has warned passengers of possible delays due to technical issues with its check-in and boarding system.

A spokesperson for London Airport said that "an external company, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines at multiple airports, is experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers." It said the company is working to "resolve the issue quickly."

RTX, the parent company of Collins Aerospace, said it was aware of "cyber-related disruptions" affecting its software at some airports. "The impact is limited to electronic check-in and baggage drop-off and can be mitigated by manual check-in," the company said in a statement.

The statement did not specify which airports were affected by the attack. A spokesman for Germany's largest airport, Frankfurt, said that the facility was not damaged.

The Polish Minister of Digital Affairs wrote on the X platform: "Cyberattack on European airports – we are closely monitoring the situation. At this time, there are no signs of a threat to airports in Poland." He added that "initial analyses indicate a targeted attack, targeting a single international airport software provider."

Passengers whose flights were scheduled for Saturday were advised to confirm with their airlines whether their flight would take place before going to the airport. (PAP)

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