A widespread cyberattack on a leading provider of check-in and boarding systems left passengers stranded at key European hubs this Saturday, including London's Heathrow, Brussels Airport and Berlin Airport. With digital kiosks offline, airlines scrambled to switch to manual check-in, triggering delays, cancellations and mounting frustration.
RTX, parent company of Collins Aerospace, confirmed a "cyber-related disruption" to software used at selected airports worldwide. While the root cause remains under investigation, the impact hit electronic check-in and baggage drop operations hardest. "We're working to restore full service as quickly as possible," the company said.
According to aviation data provider Cirium, 29 flights were canceled across Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin by mid-day. Scheduled departures stood at 651 at Heathrow, 228 in Brussels and 226 in Berlin on Saturday alone. Later, Dublin and Cork airports reported minor knock-on effects as ground teams adjusted to manual processes.
Passengers left in the dark
Travelers were urged to confirm their flight status with airlines before heading to the airport. Inside Heathrow, science journalist Tereza Pultarova told BBC News she had no service desk support for her flight to Amsterdam: "It's chaos and quite frustrating for most people here."
At Berlin Airport, traveler Kim Reisen described unclear announcements: "We've only been told there's a technical fault." On the ground, Siegfried Schwarz added: "I find it inexplicable that, with today's technology, there's no way to defend yourself against something like that."
As digital-savvy passengers and digital nomads face the fallout from this breach, airlines and airports are under pressure to boost cybersecurity and improve backup procedures. For now, manual check-ins and patience remain the only remedy for those caught in Europe's airport cyberfreeze.
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Passengers stranded at major European airports after cyberattack
cgtn.com
