Dublin Airport Battles Major Disruption After Cyberattack on Check-In Systems

What’s Going On?

Dublin Airport has been forced to endure another day of travel chaos following a cyberattack that knocked out its check-in and baggage handling systems. The problem, linked to the Muse software supplied by Collins Aerospace (an RTX company), is European-wide and has hit airlines at multiple airports.

Flight Cancellations & Delays

As of midday, 13 flights out of Terminal 2 have been cancelled — nine inbound and four outbound. Aer Lingus, among others, reports being significantly impacted, with delays and cancellations continuing.

Why the Problem Has Spread

The core issue centers on the Muse system, which allows airlines to share check-in desks and boarding gates instead of each one having its own separate infrastructure. Because this is used across many European airports, when Muse failed it triggered a cascading effect. Electronic check-in, bag drops, and boarding gate operations were disrupted.

Handling the Fallout – What Airports & Airlines Are Doing

• Switching to manual workarounds: airlines are generating bag tags and boarding passes by hand.
• Extending check-in and bag drop times: passengers are asked to arrive early — two hours for short-haul, three hours for long-haul flights.
• Monitoring updates closely: airlines advise travelers to check flight status often through SMS or airline websites.
• Outside support arriving: IT experts from the U.S. are expected in Dublin to assess and repair the affected systems.

Security Incident at Terminal 2

On top of the cyber disruption, Terminal 2 was evacuated after a security alert regarding suspicious luggage. The alert was later lifted; authorities described it as a precautionary measure while they investigated.

Looking Ahead & Travel Advice

If you are flying in the next 12-48 hours:

• Check your flight status before leaving for the airport.
• Allow extra time for check-in, baggage drop, and boarding procedures.
• Use online check-in if possible to avoid queues.
• Expect the operating schedule to be maintained where possible, but prepare for delays and last-minute changes.

Why This Matters (and What Can Be Learned)

This incident highlights the vulnerability of modern airport operations to cyberattacks — especially when those operations rely on centralized third-party platforms. Muse’s outage shows how a single software failure can ripple across many airports and airlines.

For better resilience, airports and providers should invest in stronger cybersecurity protocols, maintain reliable manual fallbacks, and improve coordination with software vendors. Travelers should also expect system-wide incidents to be taken seriously in future aviation planning.