Dublin Airport Cyberattack: What Travelers Must Know Before Flying

(DUBLIN, IRELAND) A major cyberattack tied to airline check-in software and a separate security scare that led to a Terminal 2 evacuation have combined to disrupt travel through Dublin Airport for a third day, with delays, cancellations, and slower processing continuing as of Sunday, September 21, 2025. The airport says Terminal 2 is open and safe, but manual check-in and baggage procedures remain in place while technology teams try to restore normal systems across several affected European hubs.

The disruption began late Friday, September 19, when a cyberattack targeted Collins Aerospace’s MUSE software, which powers check-in and baggage systems at major airports including Dublin, Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin. Airlines and airport teams shifted to paper-based and manual processes, which are reliable but slower, and that has led to longer queues and missed connections for many travelers.

A separate incident on Saturday added pressure: a Terminal 2 evacuation was ordered after a security alert over suspicious luggage. The Defence Forces’ Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team cleared the terminal, and operations resumed later that afternoon. Police confirmed the security alert was unrelated to the cyberattack.

Flight impacts and airport response

Aer Lingus, the largest carrier at Dublin Airport’s Terminal 2, reported 13 cancellations by midday Sunday, including 9 inbound and 4 outbound flights, and warned of ongoing knock-on delays. Airlines are messaging passengers by SMS and through their websites with flight-specific updates and rebooking options.

Dublin Airport urges passengers to arrive as normal but to allow extra time for check-in and bag drop, especially at Terminal 2. Airport staff on the ground say the manual workarounds are steady but slow, and teams are prioritizing safety and orderly boarding while schedules change hour by hour.

Collins Aerospace and parent company RTX acknowledge the cyberattack and say restoration work is underway, but there is no firm timeline yet for full recovery. The European Commission is monitoring the incident and, at this time, reports no evidence of a broader, more severe threat beyond the affected airports.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the episode underscores how deeply airline operations now rely on third-party technology suppliers and how quickly a single point of failure can ripple across borders, affecting travelers, crews, and airline networks at once.

What’s working, what isn’t

Terminal 2 is open, security lanes are operating normally, and gates are active. The most visible pinch points are at airline counters, where manual check-in and baggage drop remain the norm while systems come back online.

Boarding may also run slower than usual because agents must verify passenger details by hand and coordinate with operations teams to ensure baggage and crew paperwork match.

Key passenger guidance:
– Check flight status before leaving home and read incoming SMS updates carefully.
– Build in extra time for check-in, security, passport control, and boarding.
– Families with young children, older travelers, and those with reduced mobility should speak to airline staff early for assistance.

Airport officials confirm the Terminal 2 evacuation was a separate security response not connected to the tech outage. An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces acted quickly, cleared the terminal, and handed it back for normal use after safety checks. The fast reopening helped limit the number of additional cancellations, though queues grew when passengers were allowed back into the building.

Data and staff-related note

Behind the scenes, Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) is supporting airline operations and coordinating with technology partners. In a separate data matter, the DAA says nearly 2,000 staff were affected by a third-party data breach at Aon linked to Russia’s Cl0p gang and the wider MOVEit incident.

• The DAA says the staff breach did not touch passenger data or airport operations.
• The DAA has notified Ireland’s Data Protection Commission and is supporting employees.

For official guidance on data incidents, see the Data Protection Commission (Ireland) at the following link: Data Protection Commission.

How the disruptions affect international travelers

This weekend’s tech outage is not limited to Dublin Airport, which explains why connecting flights and inbound aircraft are sometimes late or missing altogether. When a check-in system stumbles, it can affect:

• Bag tags
• Seat maps
• Boarding passes
• Flight loads

Airlines can switch to manual operations, but every manual step takes longer—especially across multiple airports. That is why one late arrival in Brussels or Berlin can throw off a later departure out of Dublin.

Practical tips for connecting travelers:
– Be alert to schedule changes and pack essentials in your carry-on in case checked bags are delayed.
– For work trips, family visits, or study, leave more time, charge your phone fully, and monitor airline direct messages.
– If you are heading to Terminal 2, expect slower check-in and baggage handover.
– Accepting an earlier or later rebooking option can reduce the chance of getting stuck.

Dublin Airport emphasizes that passenger safety remains the top priority, both in handling the cyberattack’s operational fallout and in the Terminal 2 security response. Officials stress that the tech outage and the security alert were separate events—one did not cause the other—and that the terminal’s safety checks worked as designed.

Airline operations and recovery outlook

Airlines are working line by line through affected flights. Aer Lingus is the most visible at Terminal 2, but other carriers sharing the software disruption have also had to adjust.

Operational realities:
– Schedules posted the night before may shift by morning while teams coordinate aircraft, crews, and ground handling.
– Even with partial system restoration, manual processes may remain until electronic systems are fully verified.
– This conservative approach reduces the risk of baggage mismatches and boarding errors but extends wait times.

Collins Aerospace has not given a firm time for full system restoration. RTX and Collins’ teams are working with impacted airports to bring MUSE services back safely and in stages. The European Commission notes it is tracking the situation but has seen no proof of a larger coordinated attack beyond the known set of airports.

The next updates will likely hinge on Collins Aerospace’s progress in restoring MUSE functions across Europe and on how quickly airlines can unwind the backlog. Even after systems return, some delays may persist while crews and aircraft rotate back into normal positions.

Key takeaway: Prepare for delays but do not assume broader terminal security risks. Manual checks will likely remain for a period after electronic systems are restored.

Practical steps if you’re flying soon

Travelers still planning to fly through Dublin Airport over the next 24–48 hours should follow these concrete steps:

1. Check your flight status before leaving and again on arrival. Watch for SMS or email messages from your airline.
2. Arrive early, especially if you need to check a bag at Terminal 2. Allow extra buffer time for manual processing.
3. Pack essentials (snacks, water, charger, medication) in your hand luggage.
4. Follow updates from Dublin Airport on social media and your airline’s website. For real-time bulletins, see @DublinAirport on X (Twitter).
5. If you need to rebook or ask about options, use official airline channels: counters, the carrier’s app, or customer service phone numbers.

Additional traveler suggestions:
– Consider traveling carry-on only, if possible, to speed through the airport while baggage systems recover.
– If you have flexibility, accepting an earlier reroute can sometimes avoid peak congestion at Terminal 2.

What this episode shows about aviation resilience

According to VisaVerge.com, the weekend’s events reflect a wider pattern: digital tools have increased efficiency, but they also create shared risks when a common vendor is hit by a cyberattack. Airports and airlines have become better at switching to manual methods quickly, which limits worst-case disruption. Still, that switch puts more strain on staff and raises the chance of delays when the outage spans multiple countries.

For airport workers, the DAA’s handling of the staff data breach underscores a second reality: practical airport operations and data privacy move in parallel. The immediate weekend concern is the software outage slowing check-ins, not the staff data event. Affected employees are receiving support, and the DAA has engaged regulators. The airport says no passenger data was compromised in that separate breach.

Current scene and immediate outlook

As Sunday wears on, more flights are getting out and queues in Terminal 2 are moving, albeit slowly. Gate agents are calling rows in smaller groups, double-checking documents, and confirming baggage status with ground teams. Airport staff continue to guide people into separate lanes for rebookings, bag drops, and special assistance to keep lines from mixing.

The weekend’s double challenge—a targeted cyberattack on core software and a short-lived Terminal 2 evacuation—shows both the resilience and limits of aviation operations. People still reached their destinations, though not always on time. For now, patience and early arrival remain the best tools for anyone passing through Dublin Airport until full electronic functionality returns.