Iberia

History

2026: 77GB data leak

In January 2026, the Spanish airline Iberia said that the corporate data leak reported by the information security company Hudson Rock was related to an incident identified in November 2025. Then, during the attack, 77 GB of information was stolen, including technical documentation for Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, maintenance files and damage diagrams of aircraft.

Hudson Rock researchers have released a report on the activities of a hacker under the pseudonym Zestix, who put up for sale information allegedly stolen from corporate file-sharing servers of about 50 large companies and law firms. Iberia also appears on the list. According to the report, the stolen data contains digital signatures and unique configuration variations of value to competitors or government entities.

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Фото: Reuters

The representative of Iberia explained that the Hudson Rock study refers to an incident when the same attacker demanded $150 thousand for this package of information. The breach was reported to a number of Spanish regulators, including the Data Protection Agency.

In the fall of 2025, leak notifications were sent to hundreds of Iberia customers. In letters to those affected, the airline indicated that the information in the affected data exchange system was not critical.

At the same time, representatives of the airline confirmed that as a result of the incident, personal data were affected: names, email addresses, phone numbers and identifiers of the Iberia Club loyalty program. For those customers whose data is at risk, a two-factor authentication process has been connected to prevent unauthorized changes to bookings or transactions through an app, website or contact center.

None of the other companies listed in the Hudson Rock report confirmed the breach of their systems.^[1]

2012: Losses and Reductions

In late 2011 and early 2012, the airline's flight schedule was repeatedly disrupted due to employee strikes. They protested the creation of the budget carrier Iberia Express - workers feared layoffs caused by the restructuring. As a result of the strikes, Iberia suffered losses of several tens of millions of euros.

In November 2012, it became known that Iberia would cut 4.5 thousand jobs in order to escape bankruptcy. This was reported in a press release from the airline's owner, International Airlines Group.

A reduction agreement must be reached with the professional union before January 2013. Otherwise, the company notes, the number of dismissed may increase due to losses.

The report cites the words of Iberia CEO Rafael Sanchez-Lozano that the airline is currently "fighting for survival." He noted that at present the air carrier does not make a profit in any of the destinations^[2] of^[2].

The head of Iberia added that the crisis in Europe negatively affected the financial condition of the carrier, but the company's difficulties are systemic. The cuts, he said, "will create a platform for future growth."

As of November 2012, Iberia employs more than 15 thousand people.

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