UAE's Etihad Airways faces delays after cyberattack hits European airports; Emirates operations unaffected

A cyberattack targeting a widely used airline check-in system caused major disruptions at several European airports over the weekend, with delays impacting passenger processing for airlines including Etihad Airways at London’s Heathrow and Brussels Airport. While some carriers like Emirates reported minimal disruption, Etihad confirmed operational delays and issued a public advisory, as manual systems temporarily replaced digital check-ins at key international hubs.

Cyberattack disrupts airline systems across Europe
Several major airports across Europe—including Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin—experienced significant check-in and boarding disruptions on Saturday due to a cyber-related issue affecting Collins Aerospace’s passenger processing software, known as MUSE (Multi-User System Environment).

Collins Aerospace, a key service provider for check-in and boarding infrastructure across many international airports, acknowledged a “cyber-related disruption” in its systems. The company said it is working to restore full functionality and added that the impact is limited to electronic check-in and baggage drop systems. In a public statement, the company noted:

“We are working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible.”

The MUSE system enables airlines to share check-in desks and gate positions, reducing the need for dedicated infrastructure. When the system went offline, many airports were forced to switch to manual check-in processes, causing significant delays and logistical challenges.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) confirmed it is working with Collins Aerospace, affected airports, the Department for Transport, and law enforcement to assess the situation. According to the NCSC, the cyberattack’s impact was concentrated on electronic check-in functions and is being treated as a matter of cybersecurity concern.

Etihad Airways confirms delays at Heathrow and Brussels
Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, confirmed that the cyberattack had directly affected its check-in operations at Brussels Airport and London Heathrow , resulting in slower passenger processing. In a statement provided to Khaleej Times, the airline said:

“Due to a technical issue affecting check-in systems at Brussels International Airport and London's Heathrow Airport, check-in processes are currently taking longer than usual.”
The statement continued with details on the airline’s mitigation efforts:

“To help minimise delays to Etihad services, Etihad Airways staff are currently assisting guests with their check-in and advise guests to arrive at the airport early to minimise any potential delays.”

The airline also reassured passengers that technical teams were working to restore services:

“Technicians are actively working to restore the systems to normal operation as quickly as possible.”

Etihad apologised for the inconvenience, stating:

“Etihad Airways apologises for the delay due to circumstances beyond our control.”

Passengers flying from Heathrow and Brussels were urged to arrive early and monitor their flight status closely. Manual check-in remained the only operational method at Brussels, and similar delays were reported at Berlin Brandenburg Airport .

Heathrow, Brussels, Berlin among worst-hit airports
According to statements from affected airports and multiple news outlets including Reuters and the BBC, Saturday saw widespread delays and flight cancellations across Europe:

• Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest, confirmed delays stemming from the third-party software issue, advising passengers to check their flight status with airlines before travelling.
  
  

  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… pic.twitter.com/f68e9CbIlu

  — Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) September 20, 2025

  
  
  
• Brussels Airport issued a website statement explaining that the cyberattack had rendered automated systems inoperable, forcing a switch to manual check-in andboarding and advised passengers to check their flight status with airlines before travelling.

“This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights,” the airport said, adding that the service provider was working to resolve the issue swiftly

Difficult airport operations expected on Saturday 20 September. Check the status of your flight before coming to the airport. More information on our website: https://t.co/CGtagAiP9J pic.twitter.com/LRO8hAIGAL

— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) September 19, 2025

• Berlin Brandenburg Airport also reported “longer waiting times than usual” and confirmed efforts were underway to return to normal operations.

Despite the wide impact, some airports remained unaffected. A spokesperson for Frankfurt Airport confirmed there were no disruptions there, and an official at Zurich Airport said their operations were also unaffected.

Emirates and other airlines minimise impact
While Etihad faced delays, Dubai-based Emirates Airline confirmed that its operations were not significantly affected by the cyberattack. The airline implemented precautionary measures and advised passengers to:

• Check in online where possible
  
• Allow additional time for manual processing at airports
  

Similarly, Dublin and Cork Airports reported only a “minor impact,” with some airlines activating manual check-in processes as a contingency.

Hundreds of flights were reportedly delayed across impacted airports on Saturday, according to flight tracker FlightAware .

Heathrow traffic highlights the scale of disruption
The cyberattack comes at a time when London Heathrow Airport is operating at record capacity, magnifying the impact of any technical disruption. As Europe’s busiest airport, Heathrow plays a central role in international air travel, and recent figures underscore the scale of its operations:

• The airport serves over 230 destinations across nearly 90 countries.
• It is home to 90 airlines, including major carriers like British Airways, Lufthansa, and Virgin Atlantic .
• Between March 2024 and February 2025, Heathrow handled 84.1 million passengers.
• In August 2025, the airport surpassed 8 million passengers in a single month—the highest monthly total in its history and the first time any major European hub crossed that threshold.
• On August 1, Heathrow recorded its busiest day ever, with more than 270,000 travelers passing through its terminals.

These numbers highlight how even short-term disruptions to systems like check-in and baggage handling can ripple across global schedules and affect thousands of passengers in a single day.