TOKYO- Japan Airlines (JL) suspended ticket sales and faced operational disruptions on December 26 due to a cyberattack targeting its network equipment.
The attack impacted the airline’s connection systems with customers, causing delays across domestic and international flights.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrJapan Airlines Cyberattack
JAL identified a malfunctioning router as the source of the disruption and shut it down to prevent further issues. The airline confirms flight safety remains unaffected while technical teams work to restore the system.
The cyberattack strikes during Japan’s peak winter travel period, amplifying its impact on holiday travelers. JAL shares responded to the news with a 2.5% drop, marking the steepest intraday decline since early October.
The incident parallels American Airlines’ recent technical failure on Christmas Eve when a DXC Technology Co. glitch forced a one-hour ground stop across U.S. operations. This marks the second major airline system disruption during the 2024 holiday season.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrJapan Airlines, established in 1951, operates from major hubs including Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda airports, and Osaka’s Kansai and Itami airports. The carrier completed its transition from state ownership to full privatization in 1987.
The airline has implemented emergency protocols to manage the situation and maintain essential operations. JAL continues to monitor the system restoration progress while keeping passengers informed of flight status changes.
Technical teams actively work to resolve the router malfunction and restore normal operations. The airline maintains communication with affected passengers through alternative channels during the system recovery.
Photo: American AirlinesSimilar Incidents
American Airlines (AA) suspended all US flights for an hour on Tuesday (December 24, 2024) due to technical problems, causing widespread delays across its network. The airline’s vendor-related technology failure prevented critical flight release systems from functioning, including weight and balance calculations necessary for takeoff.
Flight operations resumed by mid-morning, but the impact rippled through the airline’s schedule. Business Insider shared Aviation analytics firm Cirium data, revealing that 63% of American’s 3,900 global flights experienced delays as of 2 p.m. Eastern Time, though cancellations remained minimal at just 19 flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the nationwide ground stop early Tuesday and announced its lifting approximately one hour later. American Airlines addressed the situation promptly, mobilizing its team to manage the backlog of affected flights and passengers.
Similarly, in October 2024, Southwest Airlines faced a system-wide technology failure affecting its website and mobile app, preventing travelers from accessing booking information and flight status. The airline cites high traffic volumes as the root cause of the disruption.
Downdetector reported concentrated outage impacts in major transit hubs including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Chicago.
Earlier this month (December 2024), a system-wide technology breakdown forced Alaska Airlines (AS) to temporarily shut down its website. Alaska Airlines suspended flights at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for 40 minutes to safely manage aircraft movements.
The Alaska Airlines failure blocked customers from booking tickets across all platforms, including their website, mobile app, and contact centers. The outage created a chain reaction of service delays throughout their network.
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