European Airports Experienceโ Disruptions Following Cyberattack
Several Europeanโค airports are facing disruptions following a cyberattack โฃthat began on Friday afternoon.The attack targeted Collins Aerospace, a data processing โฃprovider for the aeronautics sector and a subsidiary ofโ RTX (formerly Raytheon).
Brussels โคAirport has been considerably โคimpacted, with 28 arrival flights cancelled and six redirected toโค the Belgian capital. Despite deploying โขadditional personnel, the airport is currently operating with โmanual check-in and baggage handlingโ procedures due to the compromised systems. Disruptions are expected to continue on Sunday, and it remains uncertain if the system can be fully โขrestored by โMonday.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport also experienced issues,primarily affecting billing processes which have also been forced to be conducted โคmanually. While the situation stabilized by saturday afternoon, with processes becoming “relatively quiet andโ fluid,” the airport anticipates increased passenger volume on Sunday andโ Monday due to the Berlin Marathon, and encourages travelers to utilize self-service kiosks.
London Heathrow Airport reportedโฃ that “the vast majority of flights”โ continued to operate,โ but advised passengers to checkโข their flight โฃstatus and avoidโข arriving at โthe airport with excessive advance time to prevent congestion.
Spanish โฃairports, operated by Aena, are currently functioning “normally.” However, some delays and cancellations โhave been reported on connecting flights to and from Brussels at Madrid-barajas andโค Barcelona-El Prat airports. Iberia sources indicated these disruptions may be related to adverse weather conditions rather than the cyberattack.
The European emergency Commissioner, Hadja lahbib, has called forโค increased investmentโ in cybersecurity preparedness within theโ European Union, emphasizing the โ”real and complex” nature of current threats following the airport disruptions.
