Have you been affected by the Manchester Airports Group data breach?
If you live in Scotland and have received an email telling you that your personal information was affected by the Manchester Airports Group data breach, Thompsons Solicitors Scotland can help you understand whether you may be entitled to make a compensation claim.
Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which operates Manchester Airport, London Stansted Airport and East Midlands Airport, has confirmed that an unauthorised third party obtained customer information following a cyber security incident.
Around 8.7 million customers are reported to have been affected.
In a significant development, criminal hackers have reportedly published personal data relating to nearly nine million people online following the cyber attack affecting Manchester Airport, London Stansted Airport and East Midlands Airport.
The information involved relates to services including airport Wi-Fi registrations, car parking, airport lounges and Fast Track bookings.
If you have been notified that your personal information was affected and you live in Scotland, our specialist data breach solicitors can assess what has happened and explain your options.
Find out if you may have a Manchester Airport data breach claim.
Talk To Thompsons today.
What happened in the Manchester Airports Group data breach?
Manchester Airports Group has confirmed that it was the subject of a cyber security incident involving an unauthorised third party.
Customer information was obtained from systems containing data associated with:
- airport Wi-Fi registrations;
- car park bookings;
- airport lounge bookings; and
- Fast Track bookings.
The affected services were used at Manchester Airport, London Stansted Airport and East Midlands Airport.
Around 8.7 million customers are reported to have been affected by the cyber attack.
The incident has since developed further. Criminal hackers have reportedly posted personal data relating to nearly nine million people online after breaching the three airports.
For those affected, this may understandably increase concerns about who could now access their personal information and how that information could potentially be used.
Manchester Airports Group says airport operations and aviation security were not affected by the incident.
Who is Manchester Airports Group?
Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is the company that operates Manchester Airport, London Stansted Airport and East Midlands Airport.
As well as operating the airports themselves, MAG provides and manages customer services including airport parking, Fast Track, lounges and airport Wi-Fi.
This means you may have personal information held by Manchester Airports Group even if you did not book a flight directly with the airport.
For example, you may have provided information when:
- connecting to airport Wi-Fi;
- booking airport parking;
- purchasing Fast Track access; or
- booking an airport lounge.
What personal information was affected?
Manchester Airports Group has confirmed that information accessed in the incident includes:
- email addresses;
- telephone numbers;
- postcodes; and
- vehicle registration numbers.
MAG has said that in the majority of cases the information affected was limited to email addresses, many of which had been collected when customers registered to use airport Wi-Fi.
MAG also states that neither it nor the system that was accessed held customers' bank or payment details.
The information involved will differ depending on your interaction with the airport, so it is important to keep any notification you have received about the breach.
Could I be affected if I only used airport Wi-Fi?
Yes.
You do not necessarily need to have booked parking, Fast Track or an airport lounge to have been affected.
Manchester Airports Group has confirmed that information associated with in-airport Wi-Fi registrations was included in the data accessed.
In fact, MAG has said the overwhelming majority of affected customers had only their email addresses compromised, with many of these collected through public Wi-Fi registrations.
If you have received a notification from Manchester Airports Group, keep a copy even if you do not remember making a booking directly with the airport.
Can I claim compensation for the Manchester Airports Group data breach?
If your personal information was affected by the Manchester Airports Group cyber attack, you may be able to make a data breach compensation claim.
Whether you have a claim will depend on your individual circumstances, including what personal information was involved, what happened to that information and the impact the breach has had on you.
The reported publication of stolen personal information online may understandably cause additional worry for those affected. People may be concerned about:
- who now has access to your personal information;
- phishing emails or fraudulent text messages;
- scam telephone calls;
- criminals impersonating organisations you recognise;
- misuse of your personal details;
- loss of control over your personal information; or
- distress and anxiety caused by the breach.
Being affected by the breach does not automatically mean that you will receive compensation. Our solicitors can assess your circumstances and advise whether you may have grounds to pursue a claim.
What should I do if I have received a Manchester Airports Group data breach email?
If Manchester Airports Group has contacted you to tell you that your information was affected, keep the email or notification.
You should also:
- keep any further correspondence about the breach;
- be cautious about unexpected emails, calls and text messages;
- avoid clicking suspicious links or opening unexpected attachments;
- never provide passwords or financial information in response to unsolicited contact;
- keep evidence of phishing or scam messages you receive;
- monitor relevant accounts for unusual activity; and
- keep a record of any financial loss or other problems you experience following the breach.
As stolen customer information has reportedly now been published online, it is particularly important to be alert to unexpected or suspicious emails, calls and text messages.
Specialist data breach solicitors in Scotland
Thompsons Solicitors Scotland has extensive experience representing people whose personal information has been compromised following major data breaches.
Our specialist data breach solicitors have represented claimants affected by incidents involving organisations including:
- Arnold Clark;
- easyJet;
- JD Sports; and
- a number of other major data breaches.
We understand that receiving a data breach notification can be worrying, particularly when you are unsure what information has been accessed or what might happen to it.
If you live in Scotland and have been affected by the Manchester Airports Group data breach, our team can:
- review the notification you have received;
- establish what information may have been affected;
- explain your legal rights;
- assess the impact the breach has had on you;
- advise whether you may have a compensation claim; and
- guide you through the claims process if you decide to proceed.
You do not need to know whether you definitely have a claim before contacting us.
No Win No Fee Manchester Airport data breach claims
Thompsons acts in data breach compensation claims on a No Win No Fee basis.
This means that if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be charged our fees, provided you comply with the terms of the agreement.
If your claim is successful, a percentage will be deducted from the compensation secured.
We will explain the terms clearly before you decide whether you want to proceed.
Received a Manchester Airports Group data breach notification?
If you live in Scotland and Manchester Airports Group has told you that your personal information was affected, speak to Thompsons Solicitors Scotland.
Simply send us the notification you received and our specialist data breach solicitors can assess your circumstances.
Find out if you may have a Manchester Airport data breach claim.
Talk To Thompsons today.
Manchester Airports Group Data Breach FAQs
Potentially, yes.
If you live in Scotland and have been told by Manchester Airports Group that your personal information was affected, Thompsons Solicitors Scotland can review your circumstances and advise whether you may have a compensation claim.
The fact that Manchester Airport itself is located in England does not prevent you from contacting our Scottish data breach team for advice.
Not necessarily.
A data breach compensation claim can potentially include financial loss, but compensation may also be available for non-material damage such as distress where the legal requirements are met.
Our solicitors will consider how the breach has affected you personally.
No.
Receiving a notification that your information was affected does not automatically mean compensation will be payable.
Whether you have a claim will depend on the circumstances of the breach, the personal information involved and the effect it has had on you.
The best starting point is the email or notification you received from Manchester Airports Group.
You should also keep any follow-up correspondence and evidence of suspicious emails, calls, text messages, scams, financial loss or other problems you believe may be connected with the breach.
Yes.
Thompsons acts in data breach compensation claims on a No Win No Fee basis. We will explain the terms and any deduction that may apply if your claim succeeds before you decide whether to proceed.
Our Fees
We act for you on a no win, no fee basis. This means that, provided you meet your obligations and do not withdraw your instructions before your claim is concluded without our agreement, you will not be charged any fees, VAT, or outlays if your case is unsuccessful.
If Your Claim Is Successful
- Our fee will be deducted as a percentage of the compensation secured.
- This fee includes the cost of any After the Event (ATE) insurance arranged to protect you from liability for the other side’s costs if your claim is unsuccessful.
If You End Your Agreement Early
- If you withdraw your instructions or later continue your claim with another firm, you may be liable for the reasonable cost of the work completed and any outlays incurred up to that point.
- Other Circumstances Where You May Be Liable for Costs
- If you act fraudulently or provide misleading information.
- If you refuse our advice to settle after a formal offer is made.
Full Terms
Full details are set out in our Terms of Business, which will be sent to you when your claim is accepted. Making an initial enquiry does not place you under any obligation.
