As further details of a British Airways hack that stole financial details of 380,000 customers emerged Monday, at least one UK high street bank said it is discussing whether there is a way to claim compensation from the company. BA is also expected to face tougher fines for the hack, which took place during 2 weeks from Aug 21 because of sensitive bank card verification codes that were stolen at the time. Businesses receiving payments are not allowed to store card verification value codes, even if they are encrypted, because they make it much easier for cards to be used. “I believe it might be the worst financial data breach of all time in the transportation sector, increasingly chosen as a target of cyber-attacks,” said one cyber security and privacy researcher. <br/>
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Finnair has added more frequencies on several Asian routes for summer 2019 as traffic steadily grows. Overall capacity to Japan will increase 15% for the summer season. From March 31, 2019, the carrier will add 3 additional flights to the Helsinki-Osaka Kansai route for a total of 10X-weekly frequencies. Finnair will continue to operate double-daily flights to Tokyo Narita for the 2019 summer season and will add a third daily flight during Japan’s Golden Week holiday. Tokyo’s capacity will rise 9% compared to the 2018 summer period. From May 5, the carrier will upgrade the aircraft on the Helsinki-Nagoya route from an Airbus A330 to an A350 XWB. Finnair will also increase overall capacity to Greater China by 12%. <br/>
Australia's two major domestic airlines have too much market power to let airports hold them hostage to unreasonable fees, according to the airports' lobby group, which says Qantas and Virgin are using their duopoly position to bump up airfares and play hard ball with regional airports. The Australian Airports Association has also told a Productivity Inquiry that introducing new controls on how much airports charge airlines to use their runways, terminals and other infrastructure could hinder investment that has brought in competitors and lower international fares to Australia. The airports say Australia's airlines enjoy significant bargaining power. The submission into the inquiry into airport regulation follows claims from the nation's airlines that they are being gouged by Australia's monopoly airports. <br/>
Sri Lanka's national airline has found itself in trouble with the country's president - over a few nuts. President Maithripala Sirisena has complained that, during a recent trip with Sri Lankan Airlines, he was treated to some cashews which were not fit for human consumption. In fact, the irate leader added, they were not even suitable for dogs. The airline, which has at least US$1b of debt, has yet to comment on Sirisena's outburst. The airline has been dogged by allegations of corruption in recent years, and is currently under investigation by a special presidential commission of inquiry. However, exactly what was so offensive about the nuts is unclear. "Who approved the cashew? Who is responsible for this?" the president reportedly asked. <br/>