EasyJet has disclosed that it was the target of a "highly sophisticated" cyber-attack in which the email addresses and travel details of 9 million customers were accessed. The airline admits in a 19 May notice to the London Stock Exchange that the credit-card details of 2,208 customers were also accessed in the attack, which it says came from a "highly sophisticated source". "As soon as we became aware of the attack, we took immediate steps to respond to and manage the incident and engaged leading forensic experts to investigate the issue," says EasyJet. "We also notified the National Cyber Security Centre and the ICO [Information Commissioner's Office]. We have closed off this unauthorised access." The airline adds that all affected customers will be notified by 29 May. Those customers whose credit-card details were hacked have already been contacted, it says. EasyJet has seen "no evidence" that any personal information has been misused, but is advising affected customers about "protective steps to minimise any risk of potential phishing". The airline's chief executive, Johan Lundgren, says it faces "an evolving threat as cyber attackers get ever more sophisticated", and that this threat has become more acute during the coronavirus pandemic. "Since we became aware of the incident, it has become clear that owing to Covid-19 there is heightened concern about personal data being used for online scams," states Lundgren. "As a result, and on the recommendation of the ICO, we are contacting those customers whose travel information was accessed and we are advising them to be extra vigilant, particularly if they receive unsolicited communications."

Source: Cirium

Thai Airways International indicates that reform plans are still underway and dismisses recent bankruptcy rumours. "
Thai has clarified that it has no intention to file for bankruptcy, responding to rumours that appeared in the news and online about the consensus of its board of directors meeting on 15 May 2020 to file for bankruptcy," it said today in a statement that reflects a clarification submitted to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). "Thai's reform plan has been approved by [Thai's] board of directors on 17 April 2020 and presented to the State Enterprise Policy Office for consideration on 29 April 2020. The plan will soon be presented to the cabinet for further action. The board of directors had no resolution of filing for bankruptcy as appeared in the news." Separately, the carrier is among the SET-listed companies granted an extended deadline to submit first-quarter financial statements, along with Nok Air's parent company. In a letter to SET dated 13 May, Thai said that more than half of its total revenue comes from foreign branch offices. Covid-19-related travel restrictions and shut borders have made it challenging to prepare documents necessary to prepare the financial statements, which may include evidence of ticket sales and ticket refunds, per the auditor's request. "Therefore, there are limitations on access to information in searching, preparing and collecting accounting documents for the auditor's review." Thai is 51% owned by the government and was already facing financial difficulties before the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, its losses widened and revenues fell, even as passenger numbers increased.

Source: Cirium

London Heathrow's operator is urging the UK government to allow air travel to take place between countries with a "low risk" of coronavirus transmission instead of indefinitely implementing a blanket quarantine requirement. The airport argues that a "risk-based travel corridor" approach would be better for public health and the economy than a "one size fits all" quarantine measure. "Instead of a blanket quarantine approach, which would prolong economic uncertainty, the Department for Transport have worked with us and industry to develop a proposal for a risk-based model that has been successfully implemented in Hong Kong," says Heathrow in a statement. "The proposal would create 'travel corridors' or 'travel bubbles' allowing free movement between countries or cities that are very low-risk, but potentially blocking flights from high-risk markets to safeguard public health." UK prime minister Boris Johnson announced earlier in May that the country could introduce a 14-day quarantine requirement for inbound air passengers. Details have yet to be confirmed as to when such a measure would take effect, how long it would be in place for and whether there would be any exemptions. Heathrow wants to see an approach that is "proportionate to risk, based on medical evidence and has measures in place which will mean that we can move away from quarantine as quickly as possible". In the coming days, Heathrow will begin trialling the use of thermal imaging to check international arrivals for signs of fever. The airport also plans to test the use of ultraviolet sanitation procedures to clean security trays, as well as contact-free security screening equipment. "We'll pass the learnings across to the UK government, who should take a lead in setting a global [health screening] standard," says Heathrow.

Source: Cirium