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Qantas Says Passenger Addresses, Meal Choices Among Stolen Data

Last week's cyberattack on Qantas Airways Ltd. has exposed the personal information of 5.7 million customers, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and meal preferences, according to the airline.

The Australian carrier announced on Wednesday that it had started informing impacted customers about the specific data lost in the attack. While there is currently no evidence that stolen information has been released publicly, Qantas is working closely with specialist cybersecurity experts to monitor the situation.

Analysis by the airline suggests that the financial impact for customers is limited, as credit card details and financial information were not compromised in the breach. Additionally, the stolen data does not pose a threat to frequent flyer accounts, according to Qantas.

The airline's shares rose by up to 1.1% on the Sydney stock market on July 9, following the announcement. However, the attack is testing the leadership of CEO Vanessa Hudson, who has been focused on repairing the reputational damage left by her predecessor, Alan Joyce, since taking over almost two years ago.

"Qantas is advising impacted customers how to access any necessary support services," Hudson said in a statement on Wednesday. "We have put in extra security measures since the incident and are continuing to review what happened."

Qantas joins a growing list of airlines that have suffered hacking breaches in recent weeks, including Alaska Air Group Inc.'s Hawaiian Airlines and Canada's WestJet Airlines Ltd.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned that notorious cybercrime group Scattered Spider is targeting airlines using techniques impersonating employees or contractors to hack into IT systems. As the airline industry continues to grapple with cybersecurity threats, Qantas' response to the latest breach will be closely watched by regulators and customers alike.

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