Cyberattack disrupts check-in and boarding systems at Brussels Airport and other European hubs

Brussels Airport is facing major disruptions on Saturday, 20 September, after a cyberattack targeted the service provider responsible for check-in and boarding systems. The attack, which occurred late on Friday night, has forced airport staff to switch to manual check-in and boarding procedures.

The incident is not limited to Brussels. Reports confirm that London Heathrow and Berlin Brandenburg have also been affected, while several other European airports are experiencing disruptions. The full list of airports impacted has not yet been disclosed.

The attack is causing widespread delays and flight cancellations, and passengers are being urged to check the status of their flight with their airline before heading to the airport. Travelers with confirmed flights should arrive well in advance—two hours for Schengen flights and three hours for non-Schengen destinations.

Both Brussels Airport and Heathrow have described the issue as affecting a “third-party service provider.” RTX, which owns Collins Aerospace, said it was “aware of a cyber-related disruption” to its system in “select airports” and that it was working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. The company added: “The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations.” It said the attack hit its Muse software, which allows different airlines to use the same check-in desks and boarding gates at an airport, rather than requiring their own.

Swiss International Air Lines and Zurich Airport have reported that their systems are functioning normally.

Brussels Airport has apologised for the inconvenience and says the provider is working actively to restore services.