Over time, AI models may become so advanced that prompt engineering feels invisible — almost like autocomplete that just “knows.” But for now, the difference between mediocre output and exceptional output comes down to how you ask. The future won’t belong to those who merely use AI, but to those who can converse with it effectively. In other words: 👉 The better you prompt, the better your results.

Over time, AI models may become so advanced that prompt engineering feels invisible — almost like autocomplete that just “knows.” But for now, the difference between mediocre output and exceptional output comes down to how you ask. The future won’t belong to those who merely use AI, but to those who can converse with it effectively. In other words: The better you prompt, the better your results.

This wasn’t just an IT glitch—it was a wake-up call.

On the weekend of September 19, major European airports faced widespread disruption following a ransomware attack that impacted critical passenger check-in systems.

Sept 19 (Friday night): Attack detected, electronic check-ins halted.

Sept 20 (Saturday): Delays and cancellations escalated—16+ flights canceled, long queues reported, and airports like Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin switched to manual fallback.

Sept 21 (Sunday): Recovery efforts continued. While delays eased, they persisted, and no firm timeline for full restoration was available.

ENISA, the EU’s cybersecurity agency, confirmed this was a ransomware incident under active investigation, highlighting the fragility of interconnected digital infrastructure.

What Really Happened

Modern airports no longer run on isolated systems. They depend on an ecosystem of shared platforms—check-in terminals, kiosks, baggage systems, and identity integrations. When even one link in this chain is disrupted, the operational strain spreads rapidly.

Across the affected hubs, staff resorted to improvised workarounds, demonstrating how a single cyber event can cascade into continent-wide disruption within hours.

The Uncomfortable Truth

Even when an organization’s own defenses are strong, attackers often look for indirect pathways. In today’s interconnected world, inherited trust and system dependencies can become the entry points for disruption.

Cyber incidents that cause physical-world impact are still rare—but when they do occur, the consequences are disproportionate. The speed of recovery often depends less on ad-hoc fixes and more on pre-planned failover procedures and rehearsed manual operations.

Lessons Beyond Aviation

The Sept 19 incident carries lessons for every sector. It showed how business continuity is no longer just about protecting internal systems—it now depends on understanding dependencies and preparing for the unexpected.

Leaders must shift their questions:

Not “Are we secure?”

But “If disruption strikes at 2 a.m., how quickly can we detect, contain, and continue operations?”

Organizations that identify their critical processes, map dependencies, and rehearse continuity are far better placed to limit downtime and protect trust when shocks arrive.

Building a Crown-Jewel Storyline

Identify dependencies: Map the processes that generate revenue and trust, along with the systems and partners they rely on.

Test what matters: Validate backup integrity, privileged access, and recovery speed against realistic disruption scenarios.

Rehearse continuity: Practice switching to alternate procedures so teams can act in hours—not days—when critical platforms fail.

The Decision in Front of Leadership

The Sept 19 cyberattack underscored one truth: resilience is the new moat.

Those who prepare and practice will absorb shocks as brief disruptions. Those who don’t risk prolonged outages, financial loss, and reputational damage.

The decisive question remains: When the next disruption strikes, which systems keep revenue alive—and has that pathway already been rehearsed?

📩 Get in touch with us to learn more about resilience strategies and continuity practices aligned with ENISA guidance.