UK travellers are enduring long queues and disrupted plans at Heathrow Airport after a cyber attack hit several major European airports.
The problems, which began on Friday night, have left passengers frustrated and scrambling as airlines and airport staff work to manage the fallout.
Hackers Target Collins Aerospace, Disrupting Check-In Systems
The source of the disruption is Collins Aerospace, a company that provides check-in and boarding systems for multiple airlines worldwide.
The cyber attack affected electronic check-in and baggage drop services, leading to queues stretching three hours at Heathrow this morning.
While manual check-in operations are still possible, delays and cancellations have already been reported.
A Heathrow spokesperson advised passengers to check their flight status before travelling and suggested arriving no earlier than three hours before long-haul flights or two hours before domestic flights.
Brussels and Berlin Also Hit
The attack did not only impact the UK. Brussels and Berlin airports have reported multiple flight delays and cancellations, with Brussels confirming 10 cancelled flights and 17 delayed by over an hour.
Frankfurt and Hamburg airports were not affected, and Zurich Airport reported no disruption either.
Brussels Airport explained that, for now, only manual check-in and boarding are possible, and staff are working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.
Passengers Vent Frustration on Social Media
Travelers have taken to social media to express their irritation.
One passenger tweeted about the chaos at Heathrow Terminal 4, complaining about long queues and poor service.
Another woman flying to Thailand described waiting three hours to drop off her luggage, noting that only two out of six desks were staffed.
A traveller stuck in Brussels after leaving Africa Friday afternoon shared their frustration with multiple gate changes, no announcements, and lack of basic amenities like drinks.
Airlines Respond to the Disruption
EasyJet reported that the issue is unlikely to impact the rest of Saturday’s flights.
A spokesperson said: “We are aware of an IT system issue affecting a small number of airports.
While we are operating as normal, we are closely monitoring the situation.”
Heathrow added that extra staff are on hand to assist passengers and help minimise disruption, while apologising for the inconvenience caused.
Global Context and Cybersecurity Concerns
Although the perpetrators of the attack remain unidentified, Russian-linked hacker groups have previously targeted organisations in the UK and the US.
Earlier this year, Marks & Spencer, Harrods, and the Co-op were affected by the group DragonForce, and Moscow is suspected of involvement in a significant hack on the US Department of Justice.
The timing coincides with geopolitical tensions, including recent Russian military incursions into NATO territories, raising concerns about the broader implications of cyberattacks in Europe.
Collins Aerospace and RTX Work to Resolve the Issue
Collins Aerospace’s parent company, RTX, confirmed the cyber-related disruption and said efforts are underway to restore full functionality.
The problem is limited to electronic check-in and baggage drop systems, which can be managed manually.
The company has a history of being targeted by hackers, including The Everest Group, who are known to sell access to compromised systems on the dark web.
Other recent targets of Everest include BMW, while Russia itself has experienced cyberattacks on airports such as Pulkovo and KrasAvia.
Travel Chaos Likely to Continue
For now, travellers across Europe and the UK must contend with long waits and uncertainty.
Manual check-ins are helping to keep flights moving, but the situation highlights the vulnerability of modern air travel to cyber threats and the challenges airlines face in responding to unexpected disruptions.