European Airports Face Major Delays as Cyber-Attack Disrupts Check-In Systems

Air travellers across Europe are experiencing severe disruptions at major airports including Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin due to a cyber-attack that has disabled essential check-in and baggage systems. Since Saturday, the outage has forced airport personnel to manage check-in and boarding by hand, causing extended queues and delayed or canceled flights. By Sunday evening, airports were still dealing with the technical outage, causing uncertainty for many passengers regarding their travel schedules. The outage is expected to impact airport operations into Monday as teams work to restore normal systems.

Collins Aerospace, the provider of the affected Muse software, confirmed a cyber-related disruption at select airports. The main effects of the disruption are as follows:

• Purpose of Muse: allows multiple airlines to share check-in counters and boarding gates.
• System failure: electronic processing of passengers has been halted.
• Airport status:
• Brussels Airport: only manual check-in and boarding are possible, with delays expected to continue into Monday.
• Collins Aerospace: a fully operational secure system is not yet in place.
• Heathrow: recovery efforts are ongoing, with uncertainty about the cause.
• Passenger advice: travellers should verify flight status before travelling to the airport.

Passengers should be aware that the outage is causing significant uncertainty and extended waiting times at airports. Airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have put backup systems in place, though travellers may still face delays and possible cancellations. Certain airports, such as Berlin Brandenburg, are encouraging online or self-service check-in to reduce desk queues, while Dublin Airport continues manual check-in but anticipates normal operations. Anyone travelling today should allow extra time, anticipate delays, and monitor airline updates carefully.

Passengers directly impacted by the outage have faced major inconvenience. Some, like Naomi Rowan, who intended to fly from Heathrow to Costa Rica with her dog, were forced to stay in hotels as airlines could not complete boarding electronically. Eurocontrol and other European aviation authorities have asked airlines to cancel or reduce flights until early Monday to manage schedules safely. While showing the challenges faced by airports, the event highlights the importance of preparedness and effective coordination to handle system disruptions impacting travellers.

The cyber-attack reveals weaknesses in aviation’s digital infrastructure and the immediate effects on passengers. The disruption highlights that travellers may need to adjust schedules, stay aware of updates, and expect extended wait times. As airports and airlines continue efforts to restore normal service, travellers scheduled to fly today should be prepared for ongoing delays and possible disruptions. Passengers should focus on checking airline communications, using available self-service options, and being ready for possible cancellations or extended waiting times.