A major cyberattack on Collins Aerospace, the company providing check-in and boarding services for airlines, has led to widespread flight cancellations across Europe.
According to a report published by the Daily Mail on Saturday (September 20), the disruption hit major airports including London Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin, forcing airlines to cancel hundreds of flights.
In a statement, Collins Aerospace said the company is facing a “technical outage” due to the cyberattack and that restoring services will take time. Many European airlines rely heavily on Collins’ systems, leaving passengers stranded as check-in and boarding facilities came to a halt.
Passengers at Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin airports were notified of cancellations through automated phone messages. However, not all major hubs were affected — Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Zurich airports continued operations normally.
An official from Brussels Airport said:
“Until internet services are fully restored, we will provide passenger services manually. This will take longer, and if Collins’ system is not fixed soon, each departure may face delays of up to 54 minutes.”
The incident has raised concerns about the cybersecurity of aviation infrastructure across Europe, highlighting the vulnerability of critical systems to digital attacks.
