European airports hit by cyberattack disrupting check-in and boarding systems

Flights have been delayed and several flights cancelled at major European airports after cyber hackers targeted a service provider responsible for check-in and boarding systems, authorities said. The outages affected London Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin, with airlines and airport operators advising passengers to check flight status with their carriers before heading to the terminals.

Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding technology for multiple airlines worldwide, said the provider was experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers. A Heathrow spokesperson said the problem could affect several airlines across multiple airports and urged travelers to check flight status with their airline before traveling. The spokesperson also advised passengers to arrive no earlier than three hours before a long-haul flight or two hours before a domestic flight and said additional staff would be available in check-in areas to help minimize disruption.

The disruption began overnight and continued into the morning as airports tried to manage check-in and boarding using manual and fallback procedures. Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin issued updated guidance urging customers to monitor status with their airline and to allow extra time for travel.

Authorities said the outages stem from a cyber incident targeting the service provider’s IT networks used for check-in and boarding services. Collins Aerospace, which provides these systems for a range of airlines and airports, said it is working to restore service as quickly as possible.

Long queues and longer wait times were reported at several terminals as staff worked to reassign tasks, reroute passenger flows, and manually process some check-ins. Some flights were canceled or rebooked, while others were delayed by hours as ground handlers and airline staff adapted to the disruption.

Travelers were advised to contact their airlines for updated information and to consider arriving at the airport only with essential travel documents and enough time to accommodate potential delays. Airports noted that additional colleagues were deployed to assist in check-in areas to minimize disruption.

The incident highlights the aviation sector’s growing reliance on a small number of IT providers for critical passenger services and the importance of robust cyber resilience in airport operations.

No injuries were reported and officials cautioned that the situation remains fluid as investigators work to determine the cause and scope.