Japanese Airlines and Japan Transocean Air use Amadeus' passenger services systems for flight reservations, ticketing, and check-in operations. According to the airline, Amadeus informed them on October 23, 2026, that unauthorized access to their systems had occurred. This incident involved the breach of customer reservation records stored within the provider's environment. 

Passenger information included names, reservation codes, flight dates, routes, and travel classes of passengers that had been compromised. It is estimated that 90,000 customer information has been exposed. A second 2,000 passengers were also exposed with additional personal information contained in the compromised records, including passports, nationalities, frequent flyer numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, and flight, ticket, and seat numbers. 

According to reports, the unauthorized access occurred from August 10, 2023, to September 23, 2026, suggesting that the affected environment may have been exposed for an extended period of time. Although the method employed by the attackers to gain access has not been publicly disclosed, Japan Airlines has clarified that credit card information and passwords were not compromised in the incident. 

In addition, Amadeus has reportedly implemented security measures to address the issue, as the airline states there is no evidence that the exposed information has been misused and that flight operations have not been disrupted. According to JAL, affected passengers will be contacted individually and provided with necessary assistance. 

Customers were also warned against phishing emails, fraudulent phone calls and suspicious websites impersonating the JAL Group, since exposed travel and contact information might be used in targeted scams. In addition, this incident highlights the risk that third-party technology providers pose in the aviation industry. 

With its digital infrastructure providing airline, airport, hotel, and travel agency customers around the world, Amadeus makes security a critical concern for many organizations. Several airlines have reported possible exposures involving Amadeus systems, extending the impact beyond Japan Airlines. According to Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, unauthorized access to customer information managed by the same technology provider has been reported. 

It is reported that both airlines were notified of the incidents by Amadeus on October 20 and reported them on October 23. Based on their initial findings, it appears that reservation reference numbers belonging to some customers were exposed. Also pointed out was the unauthorized use of credentials related to an Amadeus system account. 

An incident similar to this one has also been reported by All Nippon Airways (ANA), another major Japanese airline. A notification of unauthorized access was received on October 29 by the airline and the provider is currently working to determine the extent of the exposure. As of now, ANA has not released the number of affected passengers or the specific categories of information affected. 

Once additional information has been confirmed, ANA will inform customers. These incidents have raised questions about the security of Amadeus's travel booking infrastructure as a result of their connection. As of October 1, the company disclosed a vulnerability in its travel booking display environment that may be exploited by ransomware actors. 

At that time, Amadeus stated that payment and other financial details had not been exploited by ransomware actors. Following the disclosures by multiple airlines, a closer examination of the earlier security issue has taken place. Amadeus provides technology services to more than 400 airlines, hotels, airport operators, and travel agents. 

In the event of a security vulnerability in a widely utilized platform, information could be exposed to several organizations, although it remains unclear how many airlines and passengers are affected. A person who has access to passenger names, travel schedules, and booking references may use these information to create convincing communications impersonating airlines using the exposed reservation information. This may also lead to opportunities for targeted phishing and identity fraud. 

It may be more credible for such attempts to possess additional information, such as passport numbers, email addresses, and telephone numbers. A broader cyber threat has prompted government intervention in Japan, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called a cabinet meeting on October 26 to discuss the recent attacks and announced plans for emergency measures to strengthen cybersecurity protections for citizens and businesses. Her concern was expressed regarding the potential harm that might result from the misuse of personal information stolen. 

When Shinjiro Koizumi and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met in the Philippines on October 28, cyber security concerns of Japan were also discussed. Both sides agreed to intensify cooperation against malicious cyber activities that could adversely affect citizens, economic operations, and national security. 

Amadeus is still investigating these incidents, with the total number of passengers affected, the method by which the unauthorized access occurred, and the possibility of additional airline victims still being determined. It is evident from this incident that third-party technology providers in the aviation sector pose security risks. There remains an urgent need for stronger safeguards and a greater level of oversight in order to protect passengers' information as investigations continue to span multiple airlines.