A cyberattack targeting a service provider for airline check-in and boarding systems caused delays and cancellations at several major European airports on Saturday, including London’s Heathrow, according to Reuters.
Collins Aerospace, which supplies systems used by airlines worldwide, reported a technical issue that affected departing passengers. Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, warned travelers to expect disruptions.
Brussels Airport and Berlin Airport also confirmed they were impacted, each issuing statements about the incident, Reuters reported.
“This recent cyberattack highlights the increasing vulnerabilities within the aviation sector as airports and airlines continue to rely on interconnected systems for operations,” Vykintas Maknickas, the CEO of Saily, a travel eSIM app, said in a release. “As we’ve seen with the disruptions at major airports, the impact of a cyberattack on critical infrastructure can be profound, affecting everything from check-ins to baggage handling.
“This attack is a prime example of the supply-chain risks facing the aviation industry,” Maknickas added. “Many airports, including those affected in this incident, rely on the same third-party systems for passenger handling. While this approach boosts operational efficiency, it significantly reduces resilience. A single cyberattack on one vendor can quickly escalate into widespread disruptions across multiple airports, as seen with the delays and cancellations at major European hubs like Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin.”
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