A major cyberattack hit Brussels Airport and other European airports on Friday night, causing widespread flight disruptions expected to continue throughout Saturday. The attack targeted a third-party service provider responsible for check-in and boarding systems across multiple European airports.
Only manual check-in and boarding procedures are currently possible at affected airports. The service provider is working to resolve the technical problems as quickly as possible, though the airport's own systems remain unaffected.
Passenger disruption expected
Flight cancellations and significant delays are anticipated throughout Saturday as airports struggle with manual processing. Brussels Airport has issued urgent advice for passengers to check their flight status before travelling and only come to the airport if their flight is confirmed.
Passengers with confirmed flights should arrive two hours early for Schengen area destinations and three hours early for flights outside the Schengen area. The airport apologised for the inconvenience and advised travellers to monitor information channels for updates.
European airports respond
The cyberattack has affected multiple European airports beyond Brussels, demonstrating the interconnected nature of modern aviation systems. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in third-party service providers that support critical airport operations across the continent.
According to GBNews, Heathrow Airport is deploying additional staff in check-in areas to minimise disruption for passengers. The coordinated response reflects the serious nature of the cybersecurity breach affecting European air travel.
Brussels Airport stated: "There was a cyberattack on Friday night 19 September against the service provider for the check-in and boarding systems affecting several European airports including Brussels Airport. This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights."
Sources used: "mirror", "gbnews.com", "nottinghampost.com" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
