Over the weekend, major European airports experienced significant disruptions due to a cyberattack targeting Collins Aerospace, a key provider of automated check-in and boarding systems. Airports including Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin were forced to switch to manual procedures, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.
At Heathrow alone, over 600 flights were affected, with Brussels and Berlin reporting similar schedule disruptions. Passengers faced long waiting times, highlighting the cascading impact of a single vendor being compromised. Authorities have confirmed the incident as a ransomware attack.
The Scale of the Disruption
The cyberattack’s effect on passenger operations was immediate and widespread. Airports reliant on Collins Aerospace’s systems for check-in, boarding, and baggage management were unable to operate digitally.
Manual check-in processes created delays, confusion, and increased stress for both staff and travelers. This incident demonstrates how dependent modern airports are on shared digital infrastructure, where a single point of failure can ripple across multiple countries.
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Expert Insights: Aviation Under Cyber Threat
Aviation Industry Targeted
Charlotte Wilson, Head of Enterprise Sales at Check Point Software, noted:
“The aviation industry has faced a surge in cyberattacks in recent months, with the Transportation & Logistics sector ranking among the top ten most attacked industries globally. Organizations now face over 1,100 cyberattacks per week on average, and ransomware continues to pose a significant threat.”
Wilson emphasized that supply chain vulnerabilities make aviation particularly attractive to cybercriminals. When third-party platforms are compromised, the resulting disruptions can cross borders, affecting multiple airlines and airports simultaneously.
Third-Party Risks
Rebecca Moody, Head of Data Research at Comparitech, explained:
“This attack highlights that a company’s security is only as strong as its third-party providers. By targeting Collins Aerospace, hackers caused multi-country disruptions. Past claims of a breach in July 2023 by the BianLian group further underscore the ongoing risk.”
Indeed, this incident marks the 15th confirmed cyberattack on the transport sector in 2025, illustrating a concerning trend for aviation and logistics industries.
Operational Impacts and Resilience
Dray Agha, Senior Manager of Security Operations at Huntress, emphasized the operational fallout:
“Even with strong internal defenses, reliance on external software can create a critical point of failure. While manual check-ins mitigate immediate issues, they are neither scalable nor sustainable, leading to delays, confusion, and increased human error.”
Agha highlighted the importance of incident response planning, regular drills, and system redundancies to maintain airport operations during cyber incidents.
Supply Chain Security and Vendor Management
Jamie Akhtar, CEO of CyberSmart, added:
“Operational reliance on third-party vendors creates a significant attack surface. To reduce risk, organizations must assess supplier resilience, implement fallback options, and maintain continuous monitoring of dependencies.”
This attack demonstrates that cybersecurity extends beyond IT departments—it is a matter of operational continuity and passenger safety.
Cybersecurity Measures for Aviation
Darren Guccione, CEO of Keeper Security, stressed the need for robust digital defenses:
“Modern airports depend on shared technology infrastructure. A single provider’s compromise can cascade into disruptions at multiple locations. Organizations must implement zero trust security models, privileged access management, and continuous monitoring to maintain resilience.”
Similarly, Javvad Malik, Lead CISO Advisor at KnowBe4, highlighted the importance of operational readiness:
“Air travel depends on shared systems. Building graceful failure procedures, rehearsing manual operations, and preparing frontline staff for contingencies are critical for ongoing service availability.”
European Response and Investigation
Dr. Martin Kraemer, CISO Advisor at KnowBe4, provided additional context:
“Dublin airports were also affected, and ransom demands were confirmed. While the EU investigates, transparency from both authorities and corporations is needed to determine the full impact and source of the attack.”
The European Union is coordinating with cybersecurity agencies and affected airports to assess the disruption, ensure passenger safety, and mitigate further risk.
Lessons Learned
Chris Hauk, Consumer Privacy Advocate at Pixel Privacy, summarized the key takeaway:
“Organizations must secure not only their own systems but also those of third-party vendors. Weaknesses in supplier systems continue to be exploited, making regular software updates and security audits essential.”
This incident underscores the necessity of a multi-layered cybersecurity strategy. Organizations should adopt:
- Continuous monitoring of critical systems
- Redundancies and backup procedures
- Supplier security assessments
- Staff training and contingency planning
The Road Ahead for Aviation Cybersecurity
The weekend’s cyberattack serves as a stark reminder that the aviation sector is a high-value target for cybercriminals. Supply chain vulnerabilities, coupled with the interconnected nature of airport operations, amplify the risk of large-scale disruption. Experts agree that improving cybersecurity in aviation requires a combination of technological safeguards, operational readiness, and international collaboration.
A proactive approach to cyber resilience incorporating redundancy, monitoring, and cross-border information sharing will be essential to ensure that airports can continue functioning even when critical digital systems fail. Cybersecurity in aviation is no longer just an IT issue; it is fundamental to operational continuity, passenger safety, and public trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the disruption at European airports?
A ransomware cyberattack targeted Collins Aerospace, the provider of automated check-in and boarding systems, forcing airports to revert to manual procedures.
Which airports were affected?
Major hubs including Heathrow (London), Brussels Airport, Berlin Brandenburg, and Dublin experienced flight delays, cancellations, and longer passenger wait times.
How many flights were impacted?
At Heathrow alone, over 600 flights were delayed or canceled, with similar disruptions reported at Brussels, Berlin, and other European airports.
Was passenger data compromised?
While the full extent of data compromise is still under investigation, past claims suggest Collins Aerospace may have experienced previous breaches, making this a key concern.
Why are airports vulnerable to cyberattacks?
Airports rely heavily on shared digital systems and third-party vendors, creating single points of failure that cybercriminals can exploit for widespread disruption.
What measures can airports take to prevent future attacks?
Airports should implement multi-layered cybersecurity, including system monitoring, zero-trust models, vendor security assessments, redundancy, and regular incident response drills.
What is the broader impact of this attack?
Beyond flight delays, cyberattacks affect operational continuity, passenger trust, regulatory compliance, and highlight the critical need for international collaboration on cybersecurity.
Conclusion
The recent cyberattack on Collins Aerospace underscores the growing vulnerability of European airports to supply chain and ransomware threats. Disruptions at Heathrow, Brussels, Berlin, and other hubs highlight how dependent modern aviation is on shared digital systems. Strengthening cybersecurity, ensuring vendor resilience, and preparing for operational contingencies are essential to protect passengers, maintain trust, and safeguard critical infrastructure.