25 May 2026

Part-IS in Aviation: What It Means for Airlines

Information security is now a safety issue for airlines, not just an IT concern. As aviation operations become more digital, airlines depend on connected systems for flight operations, maintenance planning, technical records, continuing airworthiness, crew management, and supplier coordination.

That is why Part-IS aviation matters. EASA Part-IS introduces a structured approach to managing information security risks that could have a potential impact on aviation safety. EASA’s Easy Access Rules for Information Security cover Regulations (EU) 2023/203 and (EU) 2022/1645, bringing together requirements, acceptable means of compliance, and guidance material for aviation organisations and competent authorities.

For airlines and operators, Part-IS aviation is not simply about preventing cyberattacks. It is about making sure that operational information remains accurate, available, protected, and trusted when safety decisions are being made.

 

What Is EASA Part-IS?

EASA Part-IS is the European aviation framework for managing information security risks that may affect aviation safety. It requires aviation organisations to identify, assess, manage, monitor, and respond to information security risks across systems, people, processes, and third-party interfaces.

Unlike general cybersecurity frameworks, Part-IS aviation is safety-led. The focus is not only on whether an airline’s systems are secure, but also on whether a failure, compromise, or disruption of those systems could affect safe aircraft operations.

For example, if a maintenance planning system is unavailable, the impact is not limited to IT downtime. The airline also needs to understand whether aircraft status, deferred defects, maintenance release decisions, or continuing airworthiness evidence could be affected.

EASA has also clarified that ISO 27001 certification may support compliance, but it does not automatically satisfy EASA Part-IS unless aviation safety is included within the organisation’s risk management scope. 

 

Why Part-IS Matters for Airlines and Operators

Airlines operate within a complex digital ecosystem. Flight operations, aircraft maintenance, technical records, supplier systems, compliance platforms, safety reporting tools, and operational control centres all depend on reliable information.

This makes aviation information security a direct operational priority. If safety-relevant data is unavailable, inaccurate, delayed, or altered, it can affect aircraft dispatch, compliance evidence, audit readiness, and operational continuity.

Part-IS aviation matters because it connects cybersecurity, safety, compliance, and business risk into one governance conversation.

 

Operational Systems, Safety and Cyber Risk

Cyber risk in aviation is not limited to passenger data or corporate networks. It can affect the systems that support operational decisions.

A compromised system may impact:

 

This is why aviation cybersecurity EASA compliance needs to be considered from an operational perspective, not only from a technical security perspective.

 

Compliance, Governance and Accountability

EASA Part-IS makes information security part of wider organisational accountability. Airlines should not treat it as a standalone IT project.

Safety managers, compliance officers, IT leaders, operations teams, CAMO teams, maintenance teams, and senior management all need to understand how information security risks can affect aviation safety.

This shift is important because aviation cybersecurity compliance depends on evidence. Airlines need to show that risks are assessed, controls are implemented, incidents are managed, and responsibilities are clearly assigned.

In practice, that means aviation IT compliance must be connected to safety management, supplier oversight, operational resilience, and audit readiness.

 

Which Aviation Organisations Need to Prepare?

Part-IS aviation affects a broad range of aviation organisations, including airlines, operators, CAMO organisations, MRO providers, aerodromes, design and production organisations, and other entities involved in safety-relevant aviation activities.

EASA has noted that the Part-IS framework is being applied through different regulations, with Regulation (EU) 2022/1645 becoming applicable on 16 October 2025 and Regulation (EU) 2023/203 on 22 February 2026. 

For airlines, the key point is preparation. Even where some responsibilities depend on organisational scope, approvals, and operating model, airlines should begin by identifying where safety-relevant information is created, stored, transferred, accessed, and used.

CAMO aviation services

 

Key Requirements Airlines Should Understand

The practical requirements of EASA Part-IS focus on building a controlled, documented, and risk-based approach to aviation information security.

Before airlines think about tools or platforms, they need to understand the main operational obligations.

 

Information Security Risk Assessment

Airlines need to assess information security risks in the context of aviation safety. This means identifying which systems, data flows, suppliers, and operational processes could affect safe operations if compromised.

A strong risk assessment should consider:

• Which information assets support safety-relevant decisions
• What could happen if information becomes unavailable or inaccurate
• Which teams own the risk and controls
• How risk is reviewed over time
• What evidence is available for regulatory oversight

This is where an information security management system aviation approach becomes useful. It allows airlines to structure responsibilities, controls, monitoring, and continuous improvement around safety-linked information risk.

 

Incident Detection, Reporting and Response

Airlines need processes to detect, assess, escalate, and respond to information security events. Under Part-IS aviation, the response should include operational impact, not just technical recovery.

If a system outage affects maintenance planning or technical records, the airline must be able to assess whether aircraft operations can continue safely. That requires clear escalation pathways between IT, safety, compliance, maintenance, and operations teams.

A good incident response should answer:

 

Supplier and Third-Party Risk Management

Airlines depend on external providers for MRO, CAMO support, software systems, ground operations, aircraft data, records management, and technical services.

That makes supplier oversight a major part of aviation IT compliance. Airlines need to know which third parties access safety-relevant information, how that access is controlled, and how incidents will be reported.

Weak supplier visibility can create gaps in aviation cybersecurity EASA readiness, especially when critical data is stored or processed outside the airline’s direct environment.

 

How Airlines Can Build a Part-IS Readiness Framework

A practical Part-IS aviation readiness framework should help airlines move from fragmented controls to a structured, evidence-based compliance model.

This does not mean creating a completely separate process. The better approach is to integrate aviation information security into existing safety, compliance, maintenance, supplier, and operational governance.

 

Align IT, Safety, Compliance and Operations

The first step is alignment. IT teams understand threats and technical controls, but safety and compliance teams understand operational consequences. Maintenance and CAMO teams understand airworthiness dependencies, while operations teams understand dispatch and continuity impact.

A strong EASA Part-IS framework should bring these teams together around one shared risk model.

Key actions include:

• Map safety-relevant systems and data flows
• Assign clear ownership for information security risks
• Link cybersecurity risk to safety risk assessments
• Review supplier access and contractual responsibilities
• Update incident response procedures
• Train teams on Part-IS responsibilities
• Maintain audit-ready evidence

Use Digital Tools for Evidence and Control Monitoring

Digital systems can help airlines manage aviation cybersecurity compliance more effectively by improving visibility, traceability, and control monitoring.

For example, digital workflows can support access control, audit trails, records integrity, supplier oversight, issue tracking, and compliance evidence. This is especially important for airlines managing multiple fleets, suppliers, jurisdictions, and operational systems.

 

Final Thoughts

Part-IS aviation is a reminder that modern airline safety depends not only on aircraft and people, but also on the trustworthiness of the information behind every operational decision.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Part-IS in aviation?
Part-IS is EASA’s framework for managing information security risks that may affect aviation safety.

 

Does EASA Part-IS apply to airlines?
Yes, airlines and operators may fall within scope depending on their approvals, activities, and regulatory obligations.

 

How is Part-IS different from general cybersecurity compliance?
Part-IS focuses specifically on information security risks that can impact aviation safety.

 

What should airlines do first to prepare for Part-IS?
Airlines should begin by mapping safety-relevant systems, data flows, suppliers, and operational dependencies.

 

How can digital tools support Part-IS compliance evidence?
Digital tools can improve audit trails, access control, incident tracking, records integrity, and control monitoring.