Summary
- A cyber attack on Long Beach Airport’s main website caused a temporary shutdown. Payment processing systems linked to the website are also affected.
- Other airport systems remain unaffected, including public WiFi, airline internet systems, traffic control, and mobile apps.
- This cyberattack occurred during the busy travel season, with a significant increase in passenger numbers. The airport recommends using the mobile app and arriving 90 minutes early for flights.
Long Beach Airport (LGB), a major public airport located near Los Angeles, California, was the target of a cyberattack on November 14. The cyberattack affected the airport’s main website and caused the airport authority to take the website offline temporarily. Currently, the website redirects to the Long Beach city website, which has also added additional flight information to help passengers navigate their flights.
Affecting the airport’s main website
The cyberattack rendered the airport’s website and caused the website itself to go offline. Additionally, the attack affected some of the payment processing systems that were linked from the website. However, other main airport systems were unaffected by the breach. The systems that remain fully functional include the airport’s public WiFi, internet systems utilized by airlines, traffic control, the airport’s mobile application, and payment kiosks for parking on airport property. These systems all run on a separate server from the main city server, which is what the airport website is linked to.
The airport released a statement regarding the cyberattack. The statement read,
“On Nov. 14, 2023, the City of Long Beach learned that it was subject to a potential cybersecurity incident. The City’s Department of Technology and Innovation immediately initiated an investigation, engaged with the City’s contracted cybersecurity consultant firm, and notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Through the initial investigation, the City determined a network security incident occurred.”
The statement also mentioned that the city would be taking the website offline to help with the investigation and potential remediation. It also expected the website to be offline for several days as the investigation takes place. Additionally, all necessary flight information will be placed on the city’s main website, which is also the destination that the offline website will redirect to if a user attempts to access it.
Breach ahead of the busy holiday season
The cyberattack comes at an unfortunate time ahead of the busy travel season. Long Beach Airport is expecting an estimated 88,000 passengers over the Thanksgiving weekend. It is also estimated to reach 14,000 passengers on its busiest day. These numbers are a 25% increase when compared to 2019, which is considered to be prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. This shows a return to normal travel compared to the decrease in travel during the pandemic.
Photo: JHVEPhoto | Shutterstock
Ahead of the busy weekend, Long Beach Airport also released recommendations for travelers. The airport authority recommends downloading the LGB Airport mobile app to assist in finding information regarding flights. Especially with the recent breach, the app will have the necessary information for travelers through the airport.
The airport also recommends that travelers arrive at the airport 90 minutes early for flights, especially for morning flights. LGB recommends that all passengers verify the airline’s baggage rules and flight schedule well ahead of time to assist with making the busy weekend operate smoothly.
Source: Long Beach Post