Etihad and Emirates respond as cyberattack hits European airports
Dozens of flights cancelled across Europe amid service provider outage
DUBAI – Check-in disruptions hit multiple European airports on Saturday after a cyberattack targeted a key service provider.
Collins Aerospace, a service provider responsible for check-in and boarding systems at multiple airports worldwide, was hit by a technical issue stemming from a cyberattack. Heathrow confirmed the outage could cause delays for departing passengers.
Brussels Airport said its automated systems were rendered inoperable, forcing staff to fall back on manual check-in and boarding procedures. This led to significant delays and cancellations, with passengers warned to confirm travel arrangements with their airlines before arriving.
Eurocontrol, Europe’s air traffic management agency, asked airlines to cancel half of Brussels’ flights between 4:00 am GMT Saturday and 2:00 am GMT Sunday. At least 10 flights were cancelled and 17 delayed by more than an hour.
Berlin Airport also reported longer queues, while Frankfurt Airport confirmed it was not affected. Zurich Airport said operations there were running normally.
Impact on UAE carriers
Etihad Airways confirmed its flights were among those experiencing longer check-in times at the affected airports, though the airline moved quickly to provide support. Staff were seen helping passengers at Heathrow and Brussels to complete manual processes.
The Abu Dhabi carrier said in a statement: “Due to a technical issue affecting check-in systems at Brussels International Airport and London's Heathrow Airport, check-in processes are currently taking longer than usual.”
Dubai’s Emirates Airline, in contrast, said it had not experienced significant disruption. Etihad added that technicians were “actively working to restore the systems to normal operation as quickly as possible,” while also issuing an apology to guests for delays caused by circumstances beyond its control. The carrier encouraged travellers to check in online where possible and to allow additional time at airports.
Indian carrier Air India, which has a large customer base in the UAE, confirmed its flights from Heathrow were affected. The airline advised passengers to complete web check-in before heading to the airport.
Rising cyber threats
Cybersecurity experts warn that aviation remains a prime target for attacks as global travel becomes increasingly dependent on digital systems. A report by Thales earlier this year revealed that cyberattacks on the aviation industry surged by 600% between 2024 and 2025.
Airports worldwide have reported incidents in recent years. Qantas was targeted in July 2024, with hackers gaining access to the data of six million customers. Japan Airlines was hit in December 2024, while a global IT outage in mid-2024 caused widespread delays, forcing many airports to revert to manual check-in.
On Saturday, Cirium aviation analysts reported that 16 departures and 13 arrivals had been cancelled across Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin. Heathrow alone saw seven departures and five arrivals cancelled, out of 651 scheduled flights.
The cyberattack coincided with a separate security alert at Dublin Airport, which led to the temporary evacuation of Terminal 2. Passengers were cleared back into the terminal within 30 minutes after receiving the all-clear from authorities.
While unrelated to the cyber breach, Dublin Airport later noted minor impacts linked to the same software issue affecting other European hubs.
Elsewhere, United Airlines confirmed it was “aware” of the outage but said none of its flights at Heathrow, Brussels, or Berlin had been cancelled, though minor delays were possible.
No airports in Poland reported any impact from the cyberattack, according to the country’s deputy prime minister.
Operational challenges for Etihad
The cyber-related delays follow recent operational hurdles for Etihad Airways. Earlier this week, the airline cancelled three flights linking Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Frankfurt, citing operational reasons. Routes included the Frankfurt–Abu Dhabi service and two flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Qatar’s Hamad International Airport.
In addition to the cancellations, 18 flights were delayed, affecting thousands of passengers across key Middle Eastern and European hubs. Etihad has been working to assist affected travellers, but disruptions have forced many to seek alternative arrangements.
For now, the airline continues to advise passengers to monitor flight updates closely, arrive at airports well in advance, and make use of web check-in whenever possible.