Cyberattack Delays Japan Airlines Flights During Holidays

What's New

Japan Airlines announced it faced a cyberattack on Thursday that disrupted more than 20 domestic flights.

The airline said it managed to halt the attack and restore its systems within hours, emphasizing that flight safety was not compromised.

The disruption began Thursday morning when Japan Airlines experienced a malfunction in its network connecting internal and external systems, the company said.

Why It Matters

Holiday travel has ramped up in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic which crushed the travel industry. The American Automobile Association (AAA) expects over 119 million people will travel at least 50 miles from their homes between Saturday and New Year's Day. This would exceed the previous holiday season record set in 2019.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) predicted it would screen 40 million airline passengers over the holidays and through January 2.

What To Know

Japan Airlines attributed the issue to a cyberattack designed to overwhelm its network with massive data transmissions. These types of attacks, known as denial-of-service attacks, flood a system with traffic until it crashes or becomes unresponsive, the airline explained.

Japan Airlines confirmed the attack did not involve a virus or compromise customer data. By late morning, however, the cyberattack had caused delays of more than 30 minutes for 24 domestic flights, the airline reported.

Mount Fuji is seen in the distance as a Japan Airlines (JAL) aircraft taxies at Haneda Airport on December 26, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan. On Thursday, Japan Airlines reported a cyber attack that caused several... Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

Experts have long warned about Japan's cybersecurity vulnerabilities, particularly as the nation strengthens its defense strategies and deepens collaborations with the United States and other allies known for their robust cyber protections. While Japan has made progress, analysts emphasize that significant improvements are still necessary.

Space Agency Previously Hit With Cyberattack

In June, Japan's space agency disclosed that it had been targeted by a series of cyberattacks since 2023, though critical data on rockets, satellites and defense systems reportedly remained unaffected. The agency said it was investigating the breaches to bolster preventative measures.

Meanwhile, a separate cyberattack last year disrupted operations at a container terminal in Nagoya's port, halting activity for three days.

Cyberattack Causes Temporary Halt of Ticket Sales

Japan Airlines temporarily suspended ticket sales for domestic and international flights departing Thursday but resumed operations within a few hours.

Japan Airlines confirmed that other carriers, including ANA Holdings, Skymark, and Starflyer, were not impacted by the cyberattack.

What People Are Saying

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said during a Thursday press briefing that the transport ministry had directed Japan Airlines to expedite system restoration efforts and ensure accommodations for impacted passengers.

What's Next

Television footage showed crowded terminals at Tokyo's Haneda Airport as the cyberattack disrupted travel during the busy year-end holiday season.

With businesses set to close this weekend for New Year's celebrations—Japan's biggest holiday—millions are expected to travel from urban centers to their hometowns.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.