Australia's Qantas Airways said on Wednesday more than a million customers had their phone number, birth date or home address accessed in one of the country's biggest cyber breaches in years.
Qantas said on Wednesday it is contacting customers after a cyberattack targeted a third-party customer service platform that stored the personal data of 6 million customers.
The cyber incident was discovered on Monday and is under investigation, according to the airline.
Qantas is confronting the possibility of a substantial financial penalty, with the Federal Court scrutinising the airline's expressions of remorse over the unlawful outsourcing of nearly 1,700 ground handling workers in 2020. In penalty hearings that began on Monday, Justice Michael Lee expressed scepticism of Qantas' contrition.
Qantas' H1 2025 revenues grew 9% to A$12.1 billion, driven by capacity increases and lower fuel costs, despite unit revenue pressures and inflation. The company expects double-digit EBIT growth for H2 2025, with strong domestic unit revenues and increased capacity, despite rising net debt due to fleet expansion. Qantas stock is fairly valued, with recent price increases, driven by higher EBITDA and free cash flow expectations, already priced into the market.
Qantas Airways Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson discusses the company's positioning in the Chinese market, saying if the Australian airline sees demand in China, it will put services back on those routes. She also discusses Airbus aircraft deliveries, sustainable aviation, and the recent London Heathrow Airport closure.
Australia's Qantas will start Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul flights in early 2027 after receiving the first of 12 dedicated Airbus A350-1000 aircraft at the end of next year, Chief Executive Vanessa Hudson said on Tuesday.
Shares of Qantas rose to a record high on Thursday, a day after the Australian carrier unveiled changes to its frequent fliers programme to attract cost-conscious travellers and restore its credibility following a string of controversies.
A Qantas flight bound for Brisbane made an emergency landing in Sydney airport after passengers heard a loud bang from one of its engines, Australian media reported on Friday.
Australian flag carrier Qantas Airways on Friday lifted revenue expectations from its domestic operations for the first half of the financial year, while forecasting lower fuel costs after a drop in global prices.
A court on Monday ordered Australia's Qantas Airways to pay a combined A$170,000 ($114,000) to three baggage handlers it unlawfully sacked in 2020, implying a big damages bill for a lawsuit involving about 1,700 former workers whose jobs were outsourced.
The Australian pilots union said on Tuesday that it has rejected a wage proposal from Qantas Airways for its short haul pilots, days after the company's engineers went on a strike to demand a better pay deal.