Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson Apologises After Millions of Customers Caught Up in Cyber Hack

The boss of Qantas, Vanessa Hudson, has issued a heartfelt apology over this week's cyber breach that has left up to six million customers' personal data vulnerable. The airline's CEO, who was on holiday in Europe when the incident came to light, acknowledged the severity of the situation and expressed her regret for the stress it has caused to millions of passengers.

Hudson spoke exclusively to 7NEWS from Athens, where she had cut short her trip due to the unfolding crisis. "What I would first like to say is I acknowledge the impact to all our customers and, first and foremost, I'd like to apologise to them," she said. "I know the stress that it has created for many, many millions of customers that we've had."

The cyber attack, which was detected on Monday, targeted a third-party platform used by one of Qantas' call centres. The leak of personal customer details has raised concerns about data protection and security. Names, phone numbers, dates of birth, and email addresses are among the information believed to have been compromised.

Qantas confirmed that scammers were already impersonating the airline in the wake of the attack, warning customers to be vigilant and cautious when responding to any unsolicited emails or calls.

The Scope of the Breach

Hudson assured customers that passport details, credit card information, passwords, and frequent flyer accounts were not accessed during the hack. However, she did confirm that some customer data may have been affected, which will be disclosed to passengers next week.

A Containment Effort

The threat had been contained, and Qantas' systems are now secure. Hudson stressed that the airline is committed to learning from this incident and strengthening its security measures moving forward.

Investigation Underway

Qantas has notified the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, and the Australian Federal Police, all of whom are involved in investigating the breach. The airline is also working closely with these agencies to provide support and assistance to affected customers.

Support for Affected Customers

To help customers cope with the fallout from the hack, Qantas has established a dedicated customer support line and created a dedicated page on its website to keep passengers informed about what is happening and how they can be assisted. The airline is committed to transparency and will provide regular updates as more information becomes available.