European Airports Recover After Cyberattack Disrupts Flights

European airports began to recover on Sunday following a major cyberattack that crippled check-in systems, causing widespread delays and cancellations over the past two days.

Brussels Airport reported that nearly one-fifth of its scheduled departures were cancelled, with passengers facing delays ranging from 30 to 90 minutes. Out of 257 departing flights, 45 were scrapped, according to a spokeswoman.

London’s Heathrow and Dublin airports also confirmed disruptions but said operations were gradually stabilizing. Dublin Airport announced it expected to function normally on Sunday, noting that its teams were working closely with airlines to mitigate the impact of the Europe-wide technical issue. Heathrow added that “the vast majority of flights” continued to operate, thanks to coordination with carriers.

The disruption began on Friday when airports across Europe experienced failures in passenger check-in software supplied by Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of the American aerospace and defense group RTX, formerly Raytheon. The company stated on Saturday that it was “actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality as quickly as possible.”

The incident highlights growing vulnerabilities in the aviation sector, which has seen a surge in cyberattacks. According to a June report by French aerospace company Thales, the industry recorded a 600% increase in cyberattacks between 2024 and 2025.

Similar cyber incidents have disrupted airports globally in recent years, from Japan to Germany, as reliance on digital and interconnected systems in air travel continues to expand.