Heathrow Cyberattack Disrupts European Air Travel
<p>Europe’s busiest travel hubs are grappling with major disruptions after a <strong>cyberattack on a critical airline check-in system</strong> left airports struggling to process passengers. The incident, which began late Friday, continues to affect flights across London, Berlin, and Brussels, with ripple effects spreading throughout the continent.</p><h3>The Source of the Outage</h3><p>The disruption stems from an attack on <strong>Collins Aerospace’s MUSE software</strong>, a global system used by airlines to manage check-in, boarding, and baggage operations. The outage left self-service kiosks and automated bag-drop machines offline, forcing staff to fall back on manual processing.</p><p>While flights are still operating at most airports, the slowdown in passenger handling has led to long queues, mounting delays, and in some cases, cancellations.</p><h3>Impact on Major Airports</h3><p><strong>London Heathrow</strong>: Europe’s busiest airport reported that “the vast majority of flights” are still running, but long lines and extended check-in times have become unavoidable. Officials advised travelers to arrive only within <strong>three hours for long-haul</strong> and <strong>two hours for short-haul</strong> flights, urging passengers not to show up earlier to avoid overcrowding.</p><p><strong>Berlin Brandenburg Airport</strong>: Germany’s capital city airport confirmed that disruptions remain ongoing, with delayed departures and longer processing times for baggage and security. Travelers were advised to check flight statuses frequently.</p><p><strong>Brussels Airport</strong>: Taking the most drastic measure, the Belgian hub asked carriers to cancel <strong>50% of scheduled departures</strong> to ease pressure on staff and passengers. The airport issued an apology, citing the “external cyber issue” and assuring travelers that systems will be restored once Collins Aerospace completes repairs.</p><h3>Airlines Respond</h3><p>Airlines operating through affected hubs, including major carriers such as British Airways, Lufthansa, and Air France-KLM, have been forced to adjust schedules and communicate advisories to passengers. Some carriers have warned of continued delays until full system functionality is restored.</p><p>Air India, which also relies on the MUSE platform, issued a travel advisory for its Europe-bound passengers, urging them to check for updates and allow additional time for check-in.</p><h3>Wider Cybersecurity Concerns</h3><p>The incident has heightened concerns about <strong>cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the aviation industry</strong>. Airports and airlines are heavily reliant on third-party technology providers, making them susceptible to systemic risks if those providers are compromised.</p><p>A June 2025 report by French defense firm <strong>Thales SA</strong> found that ransomware attacks in the aviation sector had surged by <strong>600% year-on-year</strong>, with dozens of reported incidents targeting airlines, airports, navigation systems, and support services.</p><p>This latest attack underscores the fragility of aviation infrastructure and the growing sophistication of cybercriminals who view transportation systems as high-value targets.</p><h3>Limited but Significant Disruption</h3><p>So far, cancellations remain limited compared to Europe’s overall daily air traffic. However, the incident demonstrates how quickly even a partial outage can cause widespread disruption. With passenger volumes still recovering post-pandemic, airlines and airports are already operating under pressure, leaving little margin for error when critical systems fail.</p><p>Recovery efforts are expected to remain <strong>uneven</strong> until Collins Aerospace restores full service. The company has not yet released details on the scale of the attack or whether ransomware was involved.</p><h3>Passengers Advised to Stay Alert</h3><p>Travelers across Europe are urged to:</p><p><strong>Check flight status</strong> before heading to the airport.</p><p><strong>Arrive only within recommended check-in windows</strong> to avoid crowding.</p><p><strong>Expect longer queues and delays</strong> for baggage and boarding.</p><p><strong>Stay updated</strong> with airline advisories and airport announcements.</p><h3>Growing Pattern of Attacks</h3><p>This cyber incident follows a series of recent disruptions across global infrastructure, including attacks on shipping companies, power utilities, and even healthcare systems. Aviation, given its reliance on centralized digital systems, remains a particularly vulnerable target.</p><p>Security experts warn that cyberattacks could become a recurring challenge for international travel. Strengthening defenses, diversifying systems, and building redundancies are seen as urgent priorities for the aviation industry.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The cyberattack that disrupted <strong>Heathrow, Berlin, and Brussels airports</strong> highlights the scale of challenges facing Europe’s aviation sector. While the immediate cancellations remain limited, the impact on passengers, staff, and operations has been significant.</p><p>As the industry works to restore normalcy, the incident serves as a stark reminder that <strong>cybersecurity is now as critical to air travel as physical security and safety.</strong> Until Collins Aerospace’s systems are fully restored, travelers should brace for uneven recovery and ongoing delays.</p>