Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin hit by check-in system failures
Passengers are experiencing continued travel disruption at multiple European airports, including London Heathrow, due to an alleged cyberattack affecting a key service provider responsible for check-in and boarding systems.
Delays and service interruptions were reported at Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin airports on Saturday, following a “technical issue” impacting Collins Aerospace, a company providing check-in and boarding support to various airlines worldwide.
The issues began on Friday night and carried over into Saturday, causing flight delays and cancellations as airlines switched to manual check-in and boarding procedures.
Travellers departing from Heathrow’s Terminal 4 reported long queues, uncertainty, and confusion about whether they would be able to depart on time.
In a statement on Saturday, Heathrow advised: “Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines at multiple airports globally, is experiencing a technical issue that may result in delays for departing passengers.”
“While the provider works to swiftly resolve the problem, 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 minimize disruption. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
British Airways operations at Terminal 5 were not affected and continued as usual, according to airport sources.
At other terminals, approximately 14 flights were cancelled and several more were delayed on Saturday, though it remains unclear which of these disruptions were directly attributed to the technical issue.
Brussels Airport confirmed the cyberattack in a statement: “There was a cyberattack on Friday night, September 19, against the service provider for the check-in and boarding systems, affecting several European airports, including Brussels Airport.
“Currently, only manual check-in and boarding are possible. This significantly impacts the flight schedule and will, unfortunately, lead to delays and cancellations of flights.”
The airport also warned that cancellations and delays would likely continue into Sunday.
Meanwhile, Berlin Airport posted an update on its website, noting increased wait times at check-in due to the issue.
Collins Aerospace acknowledged the disruption and stated: “We have become aware of a cyber-related disruption to our Muse (multi-user system environment) software at select airports.
“We are actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible.
“The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop, and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations.”
The European Commission, which plays a role in overseeing airspace across the continent, is monitoring the situation. However, it has so far indicated that the alleged cyberattack does not appear to be widespread or critical in scope.
A spokesperson said: “The commission is closely monitoring the cyberattack that has disrupted airline check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally.
“While passengers are facing disruption, aviation safety and air traffic control remain unaffected.
“The commission is working closely with EUROCONTROL, ENISA, airports, and airlines to restore operations and support passengers.
“Current signs do not indicate a widespread or severe attack.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
