Cyberattack Disrupts Check-In Systems at European Airports, Causing Delays and Cancellations

Officials said the disruption did not strike airlines themselves, but instead hit their U.S.-based technology provider, Collins Aerospace.

People walk by a departures board after a cyber attack caused delays at Brussels International Airport in Zaventem, Belgium, on Sept. 20, 2025. Harry Nakos/AP Photo

A cyberattack targeting check-in and boarding systems disrupted air traffic at several of Europe’s busiest airports on Sept. 20, forcing staff to revert to manual procedures and leaving passengers facing long lines, delays, and some cancellations.

The disruptions, which began late Friday, initially hit Brussels Airport, Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport, and London’s Heathrow Airport—Europe’s busiest hub. By mid-day Saturday, the fallout appeared to be limited, but officials cautioned that delays could persist until systems were restored.