The disruption is being linked to a cyber attack on a company that provides check-in and boarding technology to multiple carriers worldwide.
Brussels Airport confirmed the attack had forced staff to switch to manual check-in procedures, with 10 flights cancelled and 17 delayed by more than an hour.
Heathrow said it was working with partners to minimise the impact.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally, is experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers.
“While the provider works to resolve the problem quickly, we advise passengers to check their flight status with their airline before travelling.
“Please arrive no earlier than three hours before a long-haul flight or two hours before a domestic flight. Additional colleagues are available in check-in areas to assist and help minimise disruption.
“We apologise for any inconvenience.”
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Airport disruption ‘could last for days’
Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN, told The Sun: “Even though airports are switching to manual check-ins, that’s a slow and clunky process compared to automated systems.
“The backlog of delayed flights, stranded crews and missed connections will take time to clear, so passengers should expect disruption well into the weekend.
“For a hub like Heathrow, even a few hours offline can ripple through the entire weekend’s schedule.”
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Have you been affected by the cyber attack causing major delays at Heathrow or Europe’s major airports? Please email [email protected].
EU say no evidence of ‘widespread or severe attack’
A spokesman for the European Commission said there is no evidence of a “widespread or severe attack” relating to the cyber attack affecting several European airports, including Heathrow.
Brussels officials added that the origin of the incident was still under investigation.
Lib Dems question Russian involvement
The Liberal Democrats have urged officials to determine whether the Kremlin is behind the cyber-attack after three Russian military jets violated Estonia’s airspace for 12 minutes on Friday.
A party spokesman said: “After the flagrant violation of Estonian airspace, the Government needs to urgently establish if Vladimir Putin is now attacking our cyber systems.
“If the Kremlin is behind this attack, causing chaos at our busiest airport, we need to be firm in our response.”
National Cyber Security Centre investigating
The National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ, is currently “working with Collins Aerospace and affected UK airports, alongside Department for Transport and law enforcement colleagues, to fully understand the impact of an incident”.
A spokesman added: “All organisations are urged to make use of the NCSC’s free guidance, services and tools to help reduce the chances of a cyber attack and bolster their resilience in the face of online threats.”
Heathrow passenger ‘in tears’ after being shouted at amid long queues
A passenger said she “broke down in tears” after being shouted at by staff at Heathrow Airport amid long queues.
Helen Steel, 49, who was trying to fly home with KLM to Oslo via Amsterdam with a cat named Thomas, said her experience at the airport had been an “absolute nightmare”.
Speaking at a crowded Terminal 4, Ms Steel told the PA news agency: “I started travelling this morning at 3am from Dorset, and they knew about the cyber attack yesterday and didn’t tell us.
“If they just told us that there was a cyber attack, I wouldn’t have travelled up here.
“I’ve got an animal here, so I’m very concerned about his welfare.
“I’ve been shouted at twice and I broke down in tears because I was worried about him.
“None of us have had any information whatsoever. Whenever we ask ground staff, they shout at us.
“They tell us to call customer service – I’ve spent about two hours in a queue on the telephone. I then finally got through to somebody and they put the phone down on me.
“It’s another three hours to get back home and then come back up again if they find a new flight, so now I must go look for a hotel, but I’m still stuck in this queue.”
Brussels Airport confirms that 14 flights have been cancelled
Brussels Airport has confirmed that 14 flights have been cancelled so far today, an increase from 10 earlier in the day.
The airport said departing flights are now facing average delays of around one hour.
It is urging passengers to travel to the airport only after checking with their airline that their flight is still scheduled to operate.
Pictured: Travellers face long queues at Heathrow following cyber attack
Reuters
German airport says it’s ‘only indirectly affected’ by cyber attack
Münster/Osnabrück Airport in northeast Germany has said it was “only indirectly affected” by the cyber attack impacting airports across Europe.
In a statement, the airport described the incident as a “technical malfunction” and outlined the steps taken to keep flights running on time.
“Munster/Osnabruck Airport was only indirectly affected by the technical malfunction of the external system provider,” it said.
“As a preventive measure, we have redirected our handling systems to our internal IT infrastructure, ensuring a smooth operational process for arrivals and departures.
“As of now, operations are running without restrictions, and all flights were able to depart from FMO on schedule last night.”
Heathrow cyber attack shows ‘supply chain vulnerabilities’, expert warns
Rob Jardin, Chief Digital Officer at cybersecurity firm NymVPN, said the cyber attack affecting Heathrow and other European airports underlined the risks of relying on third-party suppliers.
“The cyberattack on Heathrow and other European airports is the latest in a spate of incidents this year, and it shows just how vulnerable our critical infrastructure is when reliant on third-party suppliers,” he said.
“Even if the airport’s own systems aren’t breached, an attack on a partner can still bring flights to a standstill.
“Increasingly, hackers are not just criminals but are being weaponised by hostile nation states against Europe, with supply chains seen as an easy way to cause chaos.
“We’ve seen this pattern before in retail, automotive, and now aviation – criminals are deliberately targeting supply chains to cause maximum disruption. For passengers, it means delays; for businesses, it’s lost money and far more importantly, shaken confidence.
“The lesson is clear – security can’t stop at your own network. Every supplier must meet the same high standards, and we need more resilient, decentralised infrastructures so that a single point of failure can’t paralyse critical services.
“Strong encryption, regular audits, and contingency planning are now essential to stop today’s disruption becoming tomorrow’s norm.”
