Travelers at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) faced a challenging start to the week.
Following a cyberattack on the airport’s IT service provider, long queues and significant flight delays were reported on Monday.
Tens of thousands of passengers were affected, with waiting times at check-in counters stretching for hours.
Heavy passenger traffic worsens situation
The disruption coincided with an already busy travel day. Around 95,000 passengers were expected at BER, far above the usual 75,000–85,000.
Many of them were returning participants from the Berlin Marathon, adding further strain to airport operations.
The airport urged passengers to check in online whenever possible and to use self-service machines for baggage drop-off.
IT service provider under attack
The affected company, Collins Aerospace, confirmed it was targeted by a cyberattack on Friday evening.
The incident crippled check-in systems at multiple European airports. Collins Aerospace stated that updates were underway and that systems would soon be fully restored.
Impact beyond Berlin
The consequences of the cyberattack extended across Europe. In Brussels, airlines were asked to cut half of their scheduled departures, and passengers were told to arrive two to three hours early.
Dublin Airport canceled 13 flights by midday Monday, while London Heathrow reported delays and temporary check-in issues over the weekend.
Eurocontrol, Europe’s air traffic management body, confirmed that airports in Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, and London were affected, though other German airports were not impacted.
By late Monday, most flights were operating, though delays of over an hour persisted at BER.
Airport officials advised passengers to stay informed via official websites and to allow extra time for all procedures until full stability is restored.
