Japan Airlines announced on Thursday that a cyberattack disrupted its operations, causing delays for some domestic and international flights. The airline reported that a network equipment failure connecting its internal and external systems occurred at approximately 7:24 a.m., impacting the system used for passenger baggage checks. As a precaution, the company temporarily shut down a router, leading to system malfunctions and the suspension of ticket sales for flights departing that day.
JAL says it is working to counter the attack and find its source. Its shares dropped more than 2.5 percent in early trading.
Several airports experienced problems with their baggage checking-in systems, and public broadcaster NHK reported that more than a dozen flights were delayed at some airports across the country, but there were no mass cancellations.
The airline says its other systems were not affected, passengers already on board are safe, and the situation is under control. It apologizes for the inconvenience and says it will continue to work to minimize flight disruptions. The airline has asked the police to investigate.
The attack highlights the vulnerability of aviation companies to cyberattacks. The aviation sector has long been a target for hackers. Airlines and airports have sophisticated computer systems that connect many different components of their operations, from ticketing and reservations to boarding and departure procedures. Airlines must balance the need to provide a fast and seamless service for passengers with a strong focus on security and safety.
In recent years, the airline industry has stepped up to protect against cyberattacks and improve defenses. However, there have been several incidents that highlight the ongoing threat. Last year, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was forced to delay some flights and shut down parts of its network because of a malware attack. At the same time, Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita airports were affected by ransomware attacks in the same period. In 2022, the government said a cyberattack had forced a Toyota supplier to halt production at its domestic plants for a day. In June, the popular Japanese video-sharing site Niconico was forced to suspend services because of a large-scale hack.
The incident also comes as the airline industry grapples with a sharp decline in passenger numbers amid a weak economy. During the first half of this year, Japan Airlines suffered a loss of more than 3 billion. It blamed the fall in demand for air travel on a slowing economy and higher fuel costs. The nation’s biggest airline company has been struggling to cut costs and make a profit for the past five years. Its stock has been slipping steadily since the start of the year.
