Chaos has been caused at European airports due to cyberattacks in a service provider for check-in and boarding systems.

Cyberattack has disrupted operation at many major European airports including London, Brussels and Berlin, causing delays and cancellations.

So far there are no flights that have been affected to and from Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.

Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines at many airports worldwide, is facing a technical problem that can cause delays to passengers traveling, London’s Heathrow Airport announced on Saturday.

Due to the attack, automated systems were shut down, allowing only manual check-in and boarding procedures, according to Brussels airport.

The details of the cyberattack are still revealed, but some information has been made public by the affected airports.

Authorities at Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport said a passenger management service provider was attacked on Friday night, resulting in airport managers interrupting connections with systems.

London’s Heathrow Airport said a “technical problem” influenced a service provider for check-in and boarding systems.

Collins Aerospace was mentioned as the company that faced the problem, saying this may cause delays for departing passengers.

Collins Aerospace has been working with several airlines at many airports worldwide, according to Heathrow.

The number of canceled flights in Brussels is increased to 14

Brussels Airport is included in the most affected by today’s disorders, Sky News notes.

In his latest update he confirmed that the number of canceled flights is now 14, from 10 earlier.

According to the airport, the average delay of departures is one hour.

Air transport safety ‘is not affected’

The German Government Service responsible for the safety of computers and communications has issued an update on the current situation.

The service said the global passenger management system at airports “is not working” for the time being.

This results in the management of passengers at airports that have been affected manually.

The service said it was in contact with Berlin Airport, which is one of the influenced airports, and that airline safety is not affected.

The air industry is ‘increasingly attractive target’

Caution will undoubtedly turn to how such cyberattack has been able to affect quite large airports.

Charlotte Wilson, of the cyber security company Check Point, said the air industry has become a “increasingly attractive target” for cybercrime because of its dependence on joint systems.

“These attacks often hit through the supply chain, exploited third -party platforms used simultaneously by many airlines and airports,” he said.

“When a supplier is violated, the impact can be immediate and extensive, causing disorders beyond the border,” he added.

“Cyberattacks rarely stop at the national border, so the sooner a country can detect and report an attack, the faster others can take steps to limit it,” he concluded.

Second German Airport issued announcement

Münster – Osnabrück, in northeast Germany, said it was “only indirectly influenced” by cyberattack.

Describing it as “technical malfunction”, the small international airport described in detail the measures it took to adapt to the situation.

In a statement, he said: “Münster – Osnabrück Airport was only indirectly influenced by the technical malfunction of the external systems provider. As a precautionary measure, we are redirecting management systems to our internal IT infrastructure, ensuring the smooth operation of arrivals and departures. At present, functions are being performed without restrictions and all flights departed from FMO last night according to the program. “

Brussels Airport Website does not display information on departures

Brussels Airport, which has so far appeared to be more affected, also seems to have problems with its site.

When trying to access information about departures or arrivals, users instead see cyberattack information.

“This has a major impact on the flight program and unfortunately it will cause delays and cancellations,” he warns.

Hethrow

Heathrow also warned of delays caused by a “technical problem” to a third supplier.

Passengers who are traveling today on Saturday from influenced airports were informed to confirm their trip with airlines before heading to the airport.

Long queues have also been formed in front of most of the Terminal 4 counter, a French agency reporter noted.

“We were told that the system was not working (…) There is always a lot of people, but today they are much more,” says Rowan, a 41 -year -old architect who was about to fly at 16:45 (Greek time) for Saudi Arabia.

An Algerian passenger who did not want to give her name said she waited for more than an hour to deliver her luggage. “Nothing shakes. They say they have to do everything by hand, “she says, anxious that she may lose the flight to her country.

Maray Casey from Hampshire was going to depart this morning by Etihad’s flight to Thailand via Abu Dhabi. She recounts that she had to stay in line for three hours to be able to deliver her luggage.

“They wrote our labels in hand,” he told PA news agency. “There were only two counter, we were furious,” he adds.

According to the BBC, the Eurocontrol European Air Force Support said that, due to this incident, airlines were called upon to cancel their half flights that were about to take off or land at this airport from today at 07:00 (Greek time) until tomorrow, at 05:00, at 07:00.