Hackers steal data from millions of airport customers

Breaking news from the markets: Hackers steal data from millions of airport customersImage source, EPAImage caption, About 8. 7 million customers across three UK airports had their data accessedByGeorgie Docker and Mat Trewern, North WestPublished27 August 2026Three major UK airports have been hit by a "cyber security incident" in which criminal hackers accessed the data of almost nine million people and demanded a ransom. Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which owns Manchester, East Midlands and London Stansted airports, said customers' contact details, vehicle registrations and postcodes were obtained by hackers at the weekend.

MAG told the the hackers demanded a ransom fee for the return of the data, which the group said it refused to pay. The sum of the ransom fee was not disclosed. The firm said "at no point has passenger safety or aviation security been compromised" and the system hacked did not hold customers' bank or payment details.

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7 million customers was accessed. The majority of the data accessed was restricted to customer email addresses and related to WiFi sign-ups within the airports' terminals, MAG said. MAG said in a statement: "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.

"Image caption, East Midlands Airport was one of those affected, along with Manchester and London StanstedThe firm said it only became aware of the hack on Tuesday and quickly prevented the hackers gaining any more access, and notified affected customers. "We immediately contained the risk and have been working with specialist advisors and taking appropriate steps to protect our customers and systems," MAG said. "We have informed and are working with the relevant authorities.

"Image caption, The hackers managed to steal email addresses after customers accessed WiFi in the airportsThe airport group said the e-mail addresses obtained by the hackers came from passengers signing up to the airports' on-site WiFi. More detailed data, including vehicle registrations, came from people booking car-park spaces, arranging access to lounges, and booking fast-track. Customers are urged to remain vigilant about suspicious emails, text messages or phone calls and avoid opening unknown attachments.

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'Alarming'Michael Goddard, 71, from Cheshire, said both he and his wife, Julie, 68, had received an email earlier from MAG notifying them that their data had been breached. "I was shocked," Goddard told Radio Manchester. "To find your personal info has been stolen - it is alarming.

"My information has gone and I don't know what they're going to do with it. "They have my address in the form of the postcode, they've got my name, so it doesn't take too much to find out who I am. "I'm not 100% reassured by what Manchester Airports Group has said.

Financial markets are tracking the development closely as investors assess the likely impact.