Summary of this article
A cyberattack disrupted the boarding process at major airports such as London's Heathrow airport along with airports in Brussels and Berlin
Several European airports were struck by a cyberattack on September 20. The cyberattack disrupted the boarding process at major airports such as London's Heathrow airport along with airports in Brussels and Berlin according to a report by news agency Reuters which cited officials.
As per the report, the delays in boarding and check-ins led to flight delays and cancellations. Heathrow Airport said in a post on social media platform X that Collins Aerospace, the company which provides the boarding and check-in services for major airlines experienced a technical issue, leading to delays. The airport also advised passengers to check their flight status before travelling.
"Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally, is experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers. While the provider works to resolve the problem quickly, we advise passengers to check their flight status with their airline before travelling. Please arrive no earlier than three hours before a long-haul flight or two hours before a domestic flight. Additional colleagues are available in check-in areas to assist and help minimise disruption," Heathrow Airport said in a post.
Additionally the Brussels Airport and Berlin Airport also released statements, mentioning that they were impacted by the cyberattack as well. The parent company of Collins Aerospace, RTX,also said it had become aware of a "cyber-related disruption" to its software at selected airports.
According to the Reuters report, RTX has said that the impact is limited to electronic customer check in and baggage drop and can be solved with manual check-ins. The company added that it was working on solving the issue.
On the other hand Delta Air Lines has said that it anticipates minimal impact to its flights departing from the affected airports. The airlines added that it has put-on place a workaround to minimise disruption.
The Berlin Airport has stated on its website that there are longer waiting times at check-in and it is currently working on a quick solution. Additionally, the Frankfurt Airport, Germany's largest airport, has not been affected by the attack as per a Reuters report, which cited airline spokespersons.
The report also stated that Zurich Airport is also unaffected by the cyberattack. Easyjet, which is among Europe's biggest airlines, also said that it is presently operating normally and does not expect the issue to impact its flights for the rest of the day.
