Berlin Airport operations still disrupted after cyberattack

BERLIN, Sept. 27 (YPA) -More than a week after a major cyberattack targeted a key aviation systems provider, Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport remains partially paralyzed, a disruption that has exposed the fragility of Europe’s digital aviation infrastructure and caused unprecedented chaos for travelers.

According to Germany’s DPA news agency, the airport has yet to restore its electronic check-in and boarding systems, forcing staff to revert to manual procedures. The shift has led to long queues and the delay of hundreds of flights.

A spokesperson for the airport acknowledged that the return to normal operations is moving “at a slow pace,” despite 20 specialists from the system provider working around the clock to resolve the issue.

The disruption began on Sept. 19, when airports across Europe reported severe operational problems after a cyberattack on Collins Aerospace, the US software provider behind widely used check-in and boarding systems.

The impact quickly spread beyond Berlin, disrupting operations at several major European airports, including Brussels, Dublin, and London. At Brussels Airport, the attack led to the cancellation of half of all scheduled flights and severe congestion across terminals.

According to aviation watchdog Eurocontrol, the effects of the attack also reached Cork Airport in Ireland. Security sources have described the incident as a “serious wake-up call” about the vulnerability of the region’s aviation infrastructure to cyber threats.

As technical teams continue their efforts to restore affected systems, passengers remain the hardest hit — stuck in long queues, facing mounting delays, and left with little clarity. The incident has raised broader concerns about Europe’s cybersecurity preparedness, particularly in critical sectors like air travel.

@E.Y.M