A cyberattack that led to delays at European airports over the weekend continued to cause some disruption Sunday. The issues started late Friday, with airports in London, Brussels and Berlin reporting a cyberattack affecting Collins Aerospace software, a U.S.-based company that supplies airports with kiosks for check-in, boarding pass printing and baggage drop-off.
As of Sunday morning, The Associated Press reported that Brussels Airport had asked airlines to cancel around 140 departing flights scheduled for Monday, stating that Collins “is not yet able to deliver a new secure version of the check-in system.” On Saturday, there were 25 canceled outbound flights and 50 on Sunday, the AP wrote, though Brussels Airport said it could still maintain 85% of the weekend’s scheduled departures.
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Airport spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli clarified to the AP that it was check-in desks and not self-service kiosks impacted by the situation. Teams used alternative backup systems and laptop computers to assist customers, Lekhli said.
In London, Heathrow Airport apologized on Sunday for the delays, but added that “the vast majority of flights have continued to operate,” the BBC reported. The news outlet added that lines were hours long at Heathrow.
Dublin Airport said, despite technical issues, it still expected a full schedule on Sunday, though a spokesperson told the BBC that “Passengers are advised to contact their airline directly for updates on their flight.”
RTX, the owner of Collins Aerospace, said Muse software was the system affected. It is “aware of a cyber-related disruption,” RTX told the BBC, adding it wants to solve the problem as quickly as possible. The company did not say exactly what the issue is or how long it’s estimated to last.
Aviation safety and air traffic control are not affected by the attack, the European Commission said. Officials are investigating how it happened, but said the attack itself was not widespread or severe.
