Cyberattack Hits Three Major UK Airports, Exposes Data of 8.7 Million Customers
Three major Airports in the United Kingdom have been hit by a Cyber Security incident in which the personal information of about 8.7 million customers was accessed by an unauthorised third party.
The affected Airports are Manchester Airport, London Stansted Airport and East Midlands Airport, all operated by Manchester Airports Group (MAG).
Manchester Airports Group confirmed the incident on Thursday, August 27, saying the breach involved customer information connected mainly to Airport car park bookings, Airport lounge reservations, fast-track services and Wi-Fi registrations.
According to the company, the cyberattack was detected and contained, while specialist advisers have been brought in to assist with the investigation and strengthen the security of the affected systems.
Global Mirror News gathered that the incident did not disrupt flight operations or affect Aviation security, with MAG insisting that passenger safety remained uncompromised throughout the incident.
A spokesperson for Manchester Airports Group said the company had immediately taken steps to contain the risk and had notified the relevant authorities.
“Manchester Airports Group has been subject to a cyber security incident by an unauthorised third party,” the spokesperson said.
The company explained that the stolen information related to customers who had used various services at Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports.
The information accessed reportedly included customers’ email addresses, telephone numbers, vehicle registration numbers and postcodes.
MAG said the majority of the affected information was associated with email addresses supplied by customers when registering for Wi-Fi services at the airports.
However, the Airport operator stressed that banking and payment information was not compromised.
“Neither MAG nor the system accessed hold customers’ bank or payment details,” the spokesperson said.
The company also apologised to customers who may have concerns about the incident, assuring them that the security of their personal information was being treated as a priority.
“We would like to reassure customers that Manchester Airport Group takes the security of customer information extremely seriously and we apologise for any inconvenience or concern caused,” the spokesperson added.
Despite the scale of the data breach, MAG said there had been no operational disruption at any of the three airports.
The company confirmed that airport operations remained normal and that services, including customer parking, continued to function.
Global Mirror News reports that the affected Airports collectively handle tens of millions of passengers every year, making the incident significant from a cyber security and data protection perspective.
Manchester Airport handled more than 32 million passengers last year, while approximately 30 million passengers travelled through London Stansted Airport. East Midlands Airport, meanwhile, recorded about four million passengers over the same period.
The scale of the customer information involved means the incident could potentially expose millions of individuals to follow-up risks such as phishing attempts, fraudulent messages or other forms of social engineering, although there is currently no indication from MAG that banking information was obtained.
The company said it is continuing to work with specialist advisers and the relevant authorities to establish the full circumstances surrounding the breach and determine exactly how the unauthorised party gained access.
Global Mirror News understands that customers who have used Wi-Fi, parking, lounge or fast-track services at any of the three airports may be among those whose information was affected.
MAG has not indicated that passengers need to take any immediate action beyond remaining alert to suspicious communications, particularly unsolicited emails or text messages requesting personal or financial information.
The incident adds to growing concerns over the vulnerability of major transport infrastructure and customer databases to cyberattacks, particularly as airports increasingly rely on digital systems for passenger services, bookings, connectivity and other operations.
For now, Manchester Airport, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports remain operational, with MAG maintaining that passenger safety, aviation security and normal Airport services have not been compromised.
