Dublin Airport faced significant disruption this weekend as a cyberattack hit airports across Europe. Authorities confirmed parts of the capital's airport, especially Terminal 2, had to be evacuated after the attack affected the electronic check-in and baggage systems. Staff were forced to revert to manual operations, resulting in long queues, delayed flights, and frustrated travellers.
The disruption at Dublin also raised concerns about other Irish airports. Cork and Shannon airports reported smaller but noticeable impacts, with delays and adjustments to check-in procedures. While the chaos was most pronounced in Dublin, the ripple effects were felt across the country, with passengers advised to check flight updates constantly and arrive earlier than usual.
The European cybersecurity agency ENISA identified the cause as a ransomware attack on Collins Aerospace, the U.S. company that provides the MUSE system used by many European airports. The system crashed on Friday, disabling electronic check-in desks and baggage drops. Airports in Brussels, London Heathrow, and Berlin were hit hardest, with Brussels cancelling 50 flights on Sunday and requesting airlines cancel half of Monday’s departures. Dublin Airport has confirmed that while flights continued, disruption remained high into the weekend.
For Irish travellers, the fallout is serious. Flights are taking longer to board, baggage handling is slower, and delays may continue into the week. Authorities have asked passengers to travel with hand luggage where possible and follow airline guidance closely.
While air traffic control and flight safety were not compromised, the attack underscores the vulnerability of centralized, third-party software systems. If one provider’s system fails, multiple airports can be affected simultaneously. Brussels has yet to fully implement a secure update, and Dublin continues to rely on manual backups to keep operations running.
What to watch next:
Whether disruption spreads to other airports as updates roll out.
How airlines and airport operators manage passengers and cancellations.
If new regulations or safeguards will be introduced in Ireland to prevent similar events.
Passengers flying from Dublin, Cork, or Shannon are advised to allow extra time, monitor flight status, and be prepared for delays. The cyberattack may have targeted software, but the real-world impact highlights how connected systems across multiple airports can quickly escalate small technical issues into major disruptions.
