Disruptive Cyber Incident Hits European Airports, Including Berlin
Brussels Airport and Berlin's BER airport are experiencing significant impacts on flight operations due to a cyberattack that has affected Collins Aerospace, a US-based airport service provider responsible for check-in systems at these airports.
The attack has caused a technical malfunction with Collins Aerospace's Europe-wide service for passenger handling systems, leading to delays and cancellations at the affected airports. At BER airport, currently only manual check-in and boarding are possible, causing longer waiting times at the check-in counters.
In Brussels, ten flights have already been canceled, and 17 others are experiencing more than an hour's delay. Some flights at BER airport were able to depart on time, but others experienced short and longer delays.
Heathrow Airport has announced that delays may occur due to technical issues, and passengers are advised to check their flight status with their airline and plan enough time at the airport.
The airport spokesperson at BER airport stated that they are working with paper lists and pencils for checking off passengers, while a crisis team has been set up to manage the situation.
Interestingly, the airport in Münster was affected on Friday evening, but was able to switch to its own IT within 30 minutes with no effects for passengers.
It is currently unclear which other European airports may be affected, as no other airports have reported any issues yet. Collins Aerospace confirmed a "cyber-related disruption" at some airports, affecting electronic check-in and baggage drop-off.
On a positive note, online check-in is still functioning at BER airport, and the airports in Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Hannover, Dresden, Leipzig/Halle, Düsseldorf, Bremen, and Cologne are not affected and are operating normally.
Collins Aerospace is trying to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, and the duration of the restriction at the affected airports could not be specified by the airport spokesperson.
Passengers are advised to stay updated on the situation and to plan accordingly, allowing for extra time at the airport during this challenging time.
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