Japan Airlines Says Systems Outage Caused by Massive Data Transfer

Japan Airlines (JAL), the flag carrier of Japan and a major player in global aviation, has revealed that a widespread IT system outage earlier today was caused by an internal failure due to excessive data transfer. The incident disrupted ticket sales and some airport services but did not compromise passenger data or indicate a cyberattack, according to the airline's latest update.

The outage began at 7:24 AM JST on December 26, 2024, disrupting network equipment connecting JAL's internal and external systems. This led to failures in critical services, including the suspension of ticket sales for domestic and international flights and temporary limitations on airport services such as the “Airport Standby” option for domestic flights. Despite initial speculation in the media about a potential cyberattack, JAL clarified that the root cause was a massive internal data transmission, not malicious activity.

By mid-afternoon, JAL confirmed the restoration of its systems and resumed ticket sales for flights scheduled for the same day. Other suspended services remain unavailable pending further updates. Importantly, JAL emphasized that flight safety was unaffected throughout the incident.

Founded in 1951, Japan Airlines is headquartered in Tokyo and operates from hubs at Tokyo's Haneda and Narita airports, as well as Osaka's Kansai and Itami airports. With a fleet of 279 aircraft serving 220 destinations in 35 countries, JAL is a prominent member of the Oneworld airline alliance and a cornerstone of Japan's aviation sector. The airline and its subsidiaries, which include J-Air and JAL Cargo, carry over 52 million passengers annually.

Current status and recommendations for travelers

Throughout the day, JAL issued updates on its website and social media accounts, detailing progress in resolving the disruption:

• 7:24 AM JST: Outage reported; initial investigation begins.
• 10:00 AM JST: Ticket sales for all flights are temporarily suspended; cause identified.
• 2:00 PM JST: Systems are restored, with confirmation that there was no breach of customer data or presence of malware.
• 4:00 PM JST: Domestic and international ticket sales resume, but some airport services remain offline.

JAL's public communications consistently reassured passengers that there was no risk to flight operations or customer information security. However, the company advised passengers to regularly check the airline's website or app for the latest updates on services and flight schedules and prepare for potential delays or service unavailability at airports. For assistance, travelers should reach out to JAL's customer support.