A cyberattack on Collins Aerospace disrupts check-in and baggage systems at major European airports.
Passengers face delays and cancellations as airlines and airport staff switch to manual processing.
A cyberattack on aviation systems provider Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, triggered widespread disruptions across several European airports on Saturday, forcing airlines to delay or cancel flights.
The attack, described by RTX as a “cyber-related disruption,” crippled automated check-in and baggage handling systems at multiple hubs, pushing airport staff to switch to manual processing.
Airports Affected
- London Heathrow – confirmed technical issues affecting passenger processing.
- Brussels Airport – reported that the incident began on Friday night, resulting in the shutdown of check-in and baggage systems and causing cascading delays and cancellations.
- Berlin Airport – warned travelers to expect longer waiting times at check-in until systems are restored.
“This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will, unfortunately, cause delays and cancellations of flights,” Brussels Airport said in a statement.
In contrast, Frankfurt Airport and Zurich Airport said they were not affected by the incident.
While EasyJet said its flights were operating normally and expected no weekend disruptions, other carriers, including Ryanair and British Airways’ parent IAG, had not immediately commented.
Authorities in Poland also confirmed that no domestic airports were impacted.
RTX acknowledged the disruption but stressed the impact was limited to check-in and baggage systems and could be mitigated through manual workarounds.
“We are working to fix the issue as quickly as possible,” the company said in an emailed statement.
Earlier this year, airports worldwide faced disruptions from DDoS attacks and ransomware incidents, including a ransomware strike on Kuala Lumpur International Airport that temporarily halted automated systems.
With aviation increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, hacktivists, and state-sponsored actors, experts warn that the industry must accelerate investment in cyber resilience to safeguard critical infrastructure.
Passengers flying from affected airports have been advised to check with their airlines before traveling, as disruptions are expected to continue until Collins Aerospace systems are fully restored.
