Cyberattack causes disruption at Brussels Airport
A cyberattack that affected several European airports caused disruption at Brussels Airport on Saturday morning, with several flights cancelled or delayed.
The technical issues resulted from an attack on the external service provider of the check-in and boarding systems. Passenger check-in and boarding had to be done manually, impacting the flight schedule.
By around 7:00, nine flights had been cancelled, and 15 flights were delayed by at least an hour.
“The service provider is actively working on a solution and trying to resolve the problem as quickly as possible,” said airport spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli.
35,000 passengers
Brussels Airport expected 35,000 departing passengers on Saturday. Passengers are advised to only come to the airport if their flight has been confirmed and to follow the airport's information channels for updates.
“We ask anyone with a flight to arrive at the airport on time: two hours in advance for Schengen flights and three hours in advance for flights outside the Schengen zone,” management said.
Berlin and London
Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Germany has also been affected by the attack. The airport warned passengers to expect longer wait times for check-in and boarding, as well as delays.
"The airport itself was not the target of the cyberattack, but was indirectly affected by it," said a spokesperson. Other European airports are reportedly experiencing problems as well, though it is not yet clear which ones.
London Heathrow has reported disruptions and possible delays due to a technical problem with a third-party provider of boarding and check-in systems for several airlines.
© BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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