New Delhi: In the wake of a widespread cyberattack that disrupted operations at several major European airports, Air India has issued a travel advisory urging passengers departing from London to complete their web check-in prior to arriving at the airport.
The airline, in a public notice shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), acknowledged delays at London’s Heathrow Airport due to a “third-party passenger system disruption,” and said it was working closely with local ground teams to minimize inconvenience to travelers.
“Passengers flying with us from London today are advised to complete their web check-in before arriving at the airport to help ensure a smooth experience,” Air India said. The statement emphasized that their teams are actively coordinating with airport staff to streamline operations.
Europe Hit by Coordinated Cyberattack on Airport Systems
The advisory follows a significant cyberattack that struck IT systems managing check-in and boarding processes across several European airports late Friday night. The disruption has affected passengers across multiple cities, leading to long queues, flight delays, and temporary chaos at terminals.
London’s Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, confirmed that the technical issues stemmed from problems faced by a third-party service provider. “Collins Aerospace, which supports check-in and boarding systems for multiple global airlines, is currently experiencing a technical outage,” the airport said in a statement.
Heathrow advised travelers to monitor flight updates through their respective airlines and urged them not to arrive excessively early to avoid congestion. “Please arrive no earlier than three hours before long-haul flights and two hours before short-haul departures,” the statement added.
Other Airports Affected
Germany’s Berlin Brandenburg Airport also reported system disruptions due to the same cyber incident. Airport authorities expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and said they were working with cybersecurity experts to restore normal operations.
Brussels Airport confirmed it was among the locations affected, attributing the problems to a targeted cyberattack on its check-in systems provider. “We are actively working to resolve the issue following a cyberattack that occurred on the night of September 19,” the airport announced.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, aviation and cybersecurity experts are monitoring the situation closely, citing growing concerns over vulnerabilities in global travel infrastructure.
Travelers Urged to Stay Updated
Airlines operating out of the affected airports have issued varying advisories, asking passengers to check flight statuses, arrive on time, and use online services wherever possible. Air India reiterated its commitment to assisting impacted flyers and minimizing delays.
This latest incident underscores the increasing frequency of cyber threats targeting critical transport infrastructure, raising alarms over digital resilience in the aviation sector.
