South African Airways (SAA) recently experienced a major cyberattack that began on Saturday, 3 May, significantly affecting its digital platforms and internal systems. As a result, access to the airline’s website and mobile application was disrupted, halting essential customer services and digital operations.
This incident reflects a growing trend of cyber threats aimed at the aviation industry and other critical infrastructure sectors. National carriers are becoming increasingly attractive targets for cybercriminals due to the essential services they provide and the large volume of sensitive data they manage.
Measures
The airline responded swiftly with mitigation measures. As a designated National Key Point, SAA followed all necessary legal procedures by reporting the matter to the State Security Agency (SSA) and the South African Police Service (SAPS), and notifying the Information Regulator in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). They also assured customers that teams were working urgently to restore services.
SAA Group CEO, Professor John Lamola, emphasized the airline’s ongoing commitment to data protection and cybersecurity. He stated that the airline had acted decisively to contain the issue, restore services, and begin a thorough investigation. He reassured customers, partners, and employees that SAA is reinforcing its cybersecurity protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future
Source : LOGISTICS BUSINESS AFRICA
