Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. became the victims of the world's worst airline data breach that affected up to 9.4 million passengers.
The breached information include Passport numbers, email addresses, credit and debit card details, identity card numbers, travel history, and other personal details.
The airline said that they first discovered the breach during "ongoing security processes," but they have no evidence the leaked information had been misused.
“This is quite shocking,” said Shukor Yusof, founder of aviation consulting firm Endau Analytics in Malaysia. “It’s probably the biggest breach of information in the aviation sector.”
The hack has affected more people than the total population of Hong Kong. This year only, British Airways airlines and Delta Air Lines Inc. were the victims of a massive data breach.
"We are very sorry for any concern this data security event may cause our passengers," said Cathay Pacific CEO Rupert Hogg. "We acted immediately to contain the event, commence a thorough investigation with the assistance of a leading cybersecurity firm, and to further strengthen our IT security measures."
"We are in the process of contacting affected passengers, using multiple communications channels, and providing them with information on steps they can take to protect themselves," said Hogg.
The airline has started a dedicated website who are concerned about their data can visit this site for further advice and contact details.
"We want to reassure our passengers that we took and continue to take measures to enhance our IT security," said Hogg. "The safety and security of our passengers remain our top priority."
