Names, emails, phone numbers, dates of birth and frequent flyer numbers exposed. Investigation launched

Qantas, Australia’s leading carrier, has just announced that it was the victim of a cyber attack that potentially compromised the data of approximately 6 million customers. The breach, detected on Monday, 30 June but made public only this morning, involved a third-party platform used by one of the airline’s contact centers. Despite the severity of the breach, Qantas has reassured passengers that there are no impacts on flight operations or the airline’s safety, and that no sensitive data such as credit card details, personal financial information, or passport details were compromised.

The attack was carried out by a cybercriminal who targeted the call center, gaining access to the customer service management platform. Although the system was immediately isolated, a preliminary analysis revealed that the stolen data includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and Frequent Flyer numbers of a significant portion of the 6 million customers on the platform. It is crucial to emphasize that no Frequent Flyer accounts were compromised, and passwords, PINs, or access credentials were not subject to unauthorized access.

Vanessa Hudson, CEO of the Qantas Group, expressed her apologies and also informed that the airline has already initiated the process of directly contacting the affected customers to inform them of the incident and offer support.

In response to the breach, the airline has implemented additional security measures, including access restrictions and enhanced threat monitoring and detection. The airline immediately notified the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, and the Australian Federal Police, closely collaborating with them and independent cybersecurity experts for the ongoing investigation.

For Qantas customers

The airline has established a dedicated support line and a specific webpage on qantas.com to provide the latest information and assistance.

- Dedicated support line: customers can contact 1800 971 541 (within Australia) or +61 2 8028 0534 (from overseas) to access expert advice and identity protection resources.

- Upcoming Travel: if customers have planned trips, Qantas assures that no action is required. Flight details can be verified at any time via the Qantas App or the website.

 - Updates: the airline will continue to share updates through its website and social media channels.