Brussels Airport was thrown into chaos this weekend after a cyberattack hit the IT systems of an external service provider responsible for check-in and boarding operations. The attack began on Friday, September 19, crippling systems and forcing airlines to adapt quickly. By Saturday morning, at least nine flights were cancelled, while many others faced long delays.
Brussels Airlines, the airport’s main carrier, managed to avoid outright cancellations but confirmed that long-haul flights had to be spaced out, causing knock-on delays for international passengers. Other European airports also reported disruptions linked to the incident, raising fresh concerns about aviation’s vulnerability to cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure.
According to Brussels Airlines spokesperson Joëlle Neeb, contingency measures were put in place late Friday. Passengers who had checked in online were still able to use self-service baggage systems, while airline staff processed check-ins manually for Schengen flights. This prevented a complete shutdown of operations but did little to ease passenger frustration.
Authorities warned travellers of continued delays as technicians worked to restore systems. The incident underscores growing cybersecurity threats to aviation and their potential to disrupt not just airports but entire transport networks across Europe.