Japan Airlines (JAL) reported a cyber attack on Thursday that delayed several flights and temporarily suspended ticket sales. The incident highlights the growing threat of cyber disruptions in the aviation sector.
The airline disclosed that it began experiencing “malfunctions in systems communicating with external systems” shortly before 7:30 a.m. local time (23:30 GMT, Wednesday). By 9 a.m., JAL had isolated a problematic router linked to the disruption.
“We have identified the scope of the impact and are currently checking the status of the system recovery,” the Tokyo-based carrier said.
Flight Delays and Operational Impact
The cyber attack delayed both domestic and international flights, though no mass cancellations were reported. According to public broadcaster NHK, more than a dozen flights faced disruptions at several airports across Japan. In an attempt to manage the situation, JAL temporarily suspended ticket sales for all flights scheduled for Thursday.
All Nippon Airways (ANA), JAL’s primary competitor, stated that its operations remained unaffected by the incident and were running as usual. This highlights the varied vulnerabilities within the aviation industry, where even top-tier airlines can be targets of cyber threats.
Aviation Cybersecurity Issues
This incident is the latest in a series of technical and cyber-related disruptions impacting the aviation sector globally. For instance, American Airlines experienced a network hardware issue on Christmas Eve, briefly grounding all its flights. These events underscore the critical need for robust cybersecurity and infrastructure resilience in the aviation industry.
As JAL continues to assess the damage and restore systems, the incident serves as a wake-up call for airlines worldwide. Strengthening cybersecurity measures, ensuring regular system audits, and preparing contingency plans are essential to mitigate future risks.
The growing reliance on interconnected systems in modern aviation makes the industry particularly susceptible to cyber threats. JAL’s swift isolation of the issue demonstrates the importance of rapid response mechanisms to minimise disruption and maintain customer trust.