Aviation industry in the era of cyber vulnerability

The aviation industry has undertaken a massive digital transformation in the last two decades to enhance operational effectiveness and the experience of travelers.

Thales’ 2025 report revealed a drastic 600% increase in digital attacks at the global level in just one year. For example, on July 9, Qantas Air faced a digital breach that compromised the personal data of 5.7 million customers, further exposing underlying cybersecurity vulnerabilities in this industry. The rising frequency of cyberattacks in the global aviation industry due to heavy digitalization is equally alarming for many countries, especially within the global south, signaling the need to strengthen cyber defense promptly.