Multiple Airlines Hit by Major Data Breaches

In the past three weeks, major airlines Qantas, WestJet, and Hawaiian Airlines have experienced significant data breaches after cyberattacks on a third-party contact center platform, with Qantas confirming exposure of up to six million customers' personal details. No credit card, passport, or financial data was compromised, and flight operations and safety remained unaffected. The attacks are suspected to be linked to the hacking group Scattered Spider, which has recently targeted the aviation sector with advanced social engineering methods. Qantas and the other affected airlines have notified authorities, enlisted cybersecurity experts, and begun contacting impacted customers while offering identity protection advice and strengthening security measures. These incidents highlight escalating cybersecurity risks confronting airlines, prompting warnings for increased vigilance across the industry. Investigations by authorities and cybersecurity firms are ongoing to determine the full scope and connections of the breaches.