Major Cyberattack Disrupts European Airports: Flights Delayed and Canceled Across London, Brussels, and Berlin

Cyberattack Targets Airport Systems

A targeted cyberattack on Friday affected a company providing services for check-in and boarding systems, leading to significant disruptions at some of Europe's largest airports. This has caused delays and cancellations at airports including Heathrow in London, Brussels, and Berlin.

Manual Procedures Implemented

The attack impacted Collins Aerospace's systems, rendering automated processes inoperable. In response, airports have switched to manual check-in and boarding procedures. Brussels Airport confirmed the incident, stating it has a major impact on flight schedules, resulting in unavoidable delays and cancellations.

Impact on Brussels Airport

By 7 AM on Saturday, eight flights had been canceled, and at least 15 were delayed by an hour. An estimated 35,000 passengers were expected at Brussels Airport that morning, according to the Belga News Agency. The airport advises passengers to check flight statuses with their airlines before heading to the airport.

Connections to Portuguese Airports

Zavantem, the affected service provider, has direct links to Portuguese airports in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro, affecting flights from airlines such as TAP, Ryanair, Brussels Airlines, Transavia, and TUI fly Belgium. At Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport, a TAP flight to Brussels scheduled for 7:15 AM was canceled, as was a return flight from Brussels to Lisbon at 1:45 PM.

Wider European Disruptions

Heathrow Airport in London, one of the world's busiest for international travel, reported delays due to a "technical issue" with an external provider. Similarly, Berlin Airport warned of longer wait times and potential flight disruptions, advising passengers to confirm their travel plans in advance. Frankfurt Airport, however, remained unaffected and operational, as confirmed by a spokesperson to Reuters.

Passengers across affected airports are facing extended waiting times, delays, and cancellations, with Euronews reporting on the chaos caused by this cyber incident.