Qantas hit with system crash amid global cyberware attack

Qantas have denied Wednesday's computer system failure is a result of a major cyberattack that derailed businesses, banks and airlines across Europe.

Passengers at airports around the country are being directed to check in at the counter rather than online, while the online booking feature also remains out of action.

A Qantas spokesman said it had confirmed the IT outage was not related to the Petya ransomware attack following an investigation today.

"Qantas is one of multiple airlines worldwide currently experiencing issues with the Amadeus booking system," the company said in a statement.

"Flights are operating as scheduled."

Qantas have denied their computer system failure is a result of a major cyberattack that derailed businesses, banks and airlines across Europe.

The Petya ransomware attack has crippled computers running Microsoft Corp's Windows by encrypting hard drives and overwriting files, then demanding $300 in bitcoin to restore access.

The news comes after British Airways had to cancel all flights from the UK’s two largest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick.

In a recorded message on its hotline, Qantas says “online booking and call centre reservation systems are temporarily unavailable”.

• 'No need to panic': Ukraine government responds to cyberattack with meme

• 'The whole network is down': Fresh cyber attack wreaks havoc across the world

The airline said they were investigating to see if the crash was a result of the crippling cyberattack.

Earlier on Wednesday Cadbury chocolate factory become the first Australian business to be hit by a global cyber attack.

Production at the Cadbury factory on the island state of Tasmania ground to a halt late on Tuesday after computer systems went down, said Australian Manufacturing and Workers Union state secretary John Short.

A message demanding money is seen on a monitor of a payment terminal at a branch of Ukraine's state-owned bank Oschadbank. Source: Reuters

Factory workers "weren't sure what it was but, as the night's gone on, they've realised there's been some significant attacks around the world", Short told Reuters.

Cadbury owner Mondelez International Inc said in a statement released overnight staff in various regions were experiencing technical problems but it was unclear whether this was due to a cyber attack.

A Mondelez spokeswoman in Australia had no immediate comment.

The Cadbury factory, which employs about 500 people, makes about 50,000 tonnes of chocolate a year, mostly for sale in Australia. Production remained frozen on Wednesday morning and it was unclear when it would resume, Short said.

Australian staff of global law firm DLA Piper Ltd were quoted telling domestic media they were shut out of their computer systems because of the attack. DLA Piper said in a statement it was hit by a suspected malware attack and that it was "taking steps to remedy the issue".

Newsbreak - June 28