Heathrow cyber-attack: Airports brace for second day of disruption

Heathrow cyber-attack: Airports brace for second day of disruption

Airports across Europe, including Heathrow, are grappling with disruptions caused by a cyber-attack that took down a check-in and baggage system. Passengers faced numerous delays on Saturday as the software used by multiple airlines failed, prompting affected airports to resort to manual methods like pen and paper for boarding.

Brussels Airport indicated uncertainty about when the system would be operational again, leading them to request airlines to cancel half of their departing flights. RTX, the owner of software provider Collins Aerospace, acknowledged a cyber-related disruption and aimed to resolve the issue promptly. The Muse software, facilitating airlines to share check-in desks and boarding gates, was identified as the affected system.

Heathrow confirmed ongoing efforts to address the cyber-attack consequences and expressed regret for delays encountered by passengers. Despite the disruptions, the majority of flights continued as scheduled, with Heathrow recommending passengers to monitor their flight status and arrive early to the airport. British Airways reportedly continued operating normally using a backup system, while other airlines were significantly impacted by the outage.

Travellers like Naomi Rowan and her dog Dusty found themselves stranded in a hotel after their Air France flight got affected by the cyber attack at Heathrow. Passengers queued for hours to check-in and experienced delays, with some missing connecting flights. Brussels Airport and Eurocontrol took measures to manage disruptions due to the cyber-attack, with manual check-ins extended and flight schedules trimmed until Monday. Berlin Brandenburg Airport advised travellers to utilize online or self-service check-ins, as technical issues continued their impact

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