Late September 2025 brought a dramatic blow to air travel in Europe: multiple major airports experienced check-in and boarding system outages following a cyberattack on a vendor. Passengers found themselves in manual queues, flights delayed or cancelled, and compensation claims likely to spike.
In this deep dive, we cover:
- What happened, and the technical root cause
- Which airports and airlines were affected
- Immediate and longer-term impacts on travelers
- Legal rights, insurance, and how to file claims
- Future trends: how the travel and aviation industry must adapt
- What you as a traveler can do now
- FAQ section
- Conclusion and a call to book smart with Cremova
We also naturally include “Cremova Cheap Flights & Hotels Booking” as your potential fallback platform if your flight is disrupted.
What Happened: Cyberattack Disrupts Europe’s Airport Systems
Root cause: vendor systems attacked
On or around September 19–20, 2025, a cyberattack struck Collins Aerospace’s MUSE / vMUSE check-in and boarding platform (a third-party vendor used by many European airlines and airports). World Economic Forum+4AP News+4Reuters+4
The attack—confirmed by the EU cybersecurity agency ENISA as a ransomware or “cyber-related disruption” incident—hit automatic check-in, baggage drop, boarding pass kiosk operations, and other customer processing systems. Wikipedia+4Industrial Cyber+4The Record from Recorded Future+4
Because many airports rely on a single shared backend for check-in systems (via vendor platforms), the failure cascaded across multiple locations. Reuters+3IT Security Guru+3World Economic Forum+3
Affected airports and airlines
Some of the hardest hit:
- London Heathrow (UK) — hundreds of flights experienced delays; automatic check-in and baggage systems went offline World Economic Forum+4The Guardian+4Reuters+4
- Brussels / Brussels Zaventem (Belgium) — dozens of flights cancelled; manual fallback systems deployed via iPads, laptops IT Security Guru+4Reuters+4Reuters+4
- Berlin (Germany) — delays, longer check-in queues, conversion to manual operations IT Security Guru+5Reuters+5The Guardian+5
- Dublin / Cork (Ireland) — more moderate but still noticeable impact; some airlines manually issuing boarding passes and bag tags World Economic Forum+3AP News+3The Sun+3
Across these airports, dozens to hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled. For example, Reuters reported that 29 departures and arrivals across Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin were cancelled by mid-morning on one affected Saturday. Reuters
Operational fallback: manual check-in & queues
With automated kiosks and baggage drop systems disabled, airports reverted to:
- Manual check-in by staff (using pen, paper, laptops)
- Handwritten baggage tags and boarding passes
- Slower baggage handling
- Temporary visitor triage / queuing systems
One passenger described the scene as chaotic, with handwritten boarding passes and only a few desks open. The Record from Recorded Future+3Reuters+3The Guardian+3
While airports strove to keep flights moving, delays of 30 minutes to over an hour became common, and cancellations were unavoidable in many cases. Cybersecurity Dive+4The Guardian+4Reuters+4
What This Means for Travelers: Delays, Claims, & Insurance
Heightened risk of manual queuing
When you book flights now, especially via hubs in London, Brussels or Berlin, expect:
- Earlier arrival times (arrive much earlier than usual)
- Long manual check-in queues
- Delays in baggage processing
- Potential cancellations if backup staff or processes fail
Compensation & claims likely to surge
Because many delays stem from a third-party system failure, airlines and airports may face a wave of compensation and insurance claims by affected passengers.
Key legal frameworks may apply depending on jurisdiction:
- In the EU, EU Regulation 261/2004 (air passenger rights) may entitle passengers to compensation for delays or cancellations under certain conditions
- In the UK, similar passenger rights (including delay compensation) hold under UK law
- Travel insurance policies might cover “missed connections,” “trip delays,” or “denied boarding,” though policy terms vary
Passengers should preserve all documentation: boarding passes, confirmation emails, receipts, photos of queues, etc., to support claims.
Insurance & travel policy implications
Given the rise of infrastructure-related cyber risks:
- Travel insurance providers may reevaluate coverage for “vendor system outages” or “IT failure”
- Premiums may inch higher, especially for packages involving high-risk hubs
- Insurers may require more documentation or stricter proof
If you purchased “delay / cancellation coverage,” now is the time to read the fine print and prepare claims.
Booking fallback options: Cremova
As delays and cancellations rise, having flexible booking and a fallback travel partner is vital. Here’s where Cremova Cheap Flights & Hotels Booking comes in:
- You may rebook flights / hotels via Cremova if yours get cancelled or disrupted
- Use Cremova’s support team to find alternate routing or last-minute accommodation
- Keep Cremova as your backup in your travel toolkit during this turbulence
Long-Term Implications & Industry Response
Supply chain and vendor risk spotlighted
This incident underscores a critical point: an attack on a single vendor can ripple and disrupt many airports and airlines. Reuters+3World Economic Forum+3IT Security Guru+3
Aviation infrastructure, by necessity, is interconnected. Most airports don’t build in independent check-in systems; they outsource to specialized tech providers. When that vendor fails, multiple airports crumble. World Economic Forum+1
Urgent push for cyber resilience and fallback systems
Industry players will likely accelerate:
- Implementation of backup manual systems (practice drills, fallback readiness)
- Redundant vendor architectures (i.e. not all airports using the same backend)
- Stronger cybersecurity requirements, vetting, and audits for vendors
- Multi-stakeholder coordination (governments, regulators, airports, airlines)
The World Economic Forum has already flagged this as a “wake-up call” for critical infrastructure resilience. World Economic Forum
Regulatory & insurance reforms
Regulators may demand that airports and airlines build “cyber resilience” safeguards into contracts with vendors. Existing contracts may be reviewed. Insurance products will evolve to address digital supply chain risk.
Traveler behavior shift
As system fragility becomes more visible:
- Some travelers may opt for nonhub routing (avoiding airports with single-vendor dependency)
- Travelers might arrive earlier and choose airlines or hubs with better infrastructure redundancy
- Demand for “cancel-for-any-reason” or “IT-failure insurance add-ons” may grow
What You Should Do Now — Practical Tips for Travelers
- Monitor your flight status
Check online or through airline apps just before heading to the airport. Systems may recover or degrade. - Arrive much earlier than usual
Two to three hours before departure may not suffice on affected hubs. Give yourself margin. - Use online check-in where still possible
If your airline offers it, check in remotely before arriving. - Travel light or hand-carry
Reduce baggage dependency to avoid complex baggage drop processes. - Document everything
Save confirmation emails, boarding passes, photos or videos of queues. These will help claims. - Know your rights
In the EU or UK, familiarize yourself with passenger compensation rules (e.g. EU 261). - Keep backup booking options ready
Platforms like Cremova Cheap Flights & Hotels Booking can help resecure flights or accommodations. - Purchase or review travel insurance
Check whether your policy covers “vendor system outages,” “IT failure delays,” or “missed connections.”
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the root cause of the outage?
The outage was triggered by a cyberattack on Collins Aerospace’s MUSE / vMUSE / check-in platform, impacting automatic check-in, baggage drop, and boarding systems across multiple European airports. IT Security Guru+4Wikipedia+4The Record from Recorded Future+4
Which airports were affected?
Major ones include London Heathrow (UK), Brussels (Belgium), Berlin (Germany), Dublin and Cork (Ireland). AP News+4The Guardian+4Reuters+4
Are airlines liable for compensation?
It depends. If the delay/cancellation is within the airline’s control, you may claim under EU 261/UK laws. But if it’s due to a third-party vendor system failure, airlines may argue “extraordinary circumstances.” Legal claims may hinge on how “control” is interpreted.
Can I claim via travel insurance?
If your policy includes “trip delays,” “cancellation due to technical failure,” or “missed connections,” you may claim. But many policies exclude vendor IT failures, so check the fine print.
How long will disruptions last?
At the time of reporting, many airports were still recovering. Collins and airports are actively restoring systems. But full normalization may take days, depending on residual vulnerabilities and fixes. IT Security Guru+3Reuters+3The Record from Recorded Future+3
Should I avoid traveling through these airports now?
If possible, yes. Consider alternative hubs or routing options that are less connected to the affected vendor. And if your itinerary must pass through these airports, leave extra buffer time and avoid tight connections.
Conclusion
This cyberattack on airport check-in systems is more than a travel disruption — it’s a watershed moment for aviation, critical infrastructure, and traveler risk. The lessons are clear:
- Vendor dependency is a vulnerability
- Manual fallback systems must be real, tested, and ready
- Travelers need flexible booking, insurance, and backup plans
If your travel plans are affected or at risk, act proactively: rebook flights early, check your rights, file claims, and always have a backup. And when searching for alternative flights, consider Cremova Cheap Flights & Hotels Booking as your safety net — flexible, responsive, and ready to help navigate volatility.
Book smart. Travel resilient. Use Cremova when systems falter.
If your flight was delayed or cancelled, don’t wait — go now to Cremova Cheap Flights & Hotels Booking and explore alternative routes, accommodations, or rebooking options. Stay ahead with flexibility and peace of mind.
