Alaska Airlines Grounded Due to Tech Outage — What It Means for Travellers

A major technology failure brought Alaska Airlines' operations to a halt late Sunday, leaving travellers grounded across the United States.

According to reports, the sudden outage prompted a systemwide ground stop, freezing hundreds of flights and throwing schedules into chaos. While flights have since resumed, reportedly, the disruption has triggered confusion, delays and logistical headaches for passengers and raised fresh concerns over airline IT reliability.

So, what exactly happened and what should affected travellers know now?

Unexpected Outage Grounds Entire Fleet

Initial reports suggested that the issue began just after 8 p.m. Pacific Time, when Alaska Airlines reported an IT outage that affected its operational systems. In a statement, the airline confirmed, 'We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights until the issue is resolved.'

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later confirmed the halt, which covered all aircraft operated under both Alaska Airlines and its regional brand, Horizon Air. Together, the two operate over 280 aircraft and serve more than 120 destinations across five countries.

By 11 p.m. Pacific, the airline lifted the ground stop, stating, 'As of 11 p.m. Pacific, the ground stop has been lifted, and our operations have resumed.' However, the carrier warned of continued disruption, noting, 'There will be residual impacts to our operation throughout the evening.'

Delays, Cancellations, and Confusion

As a direct consequence, the outage affected hundreds of flights nationwide, with major airports such as Seattle-Tacoma, Portland, and Denver experiencing the disruption's impact. According to FAA records, all destinations operated by Alaska's mainline and Horizon aircraft were impacted during the halt.

At Denver International Airport, one passenger, Grant Watts, told The New York Times that he and his fiancée were stuck on the tarmac for two hours before being told around 10:30 p.m. they'd have to exit the plane.

Portland International Airport was also hit hard. Passengers there reported delays and limited communication from staff as the airline worked to manage the evolving situation.

Travellers Left in Limbo

With operations resuming late Sunday night, Alaska Airlines warned that delays would continue as crews and aircraft were repositioned. For now, neither the airline nor any other report has yet provided a full account of how many flights were affected or the exact cause of the outage.

However, passengers were encouraged to check their flight status online and allow extra time at the airport. The airline also advised those impacted to retain receipts for expenses such as hotel stays or alternative transportation, as reimbursement options may be made available.

Wider Questions About Airline Tech

This incident isn't the first time a technology glitch has brought down a major US airline. In Alaska's case, a similar disruption in 2022 led to widespread delays, and just last month, its subsidiary Hawaiian Airlines reported IT system issues following a cyberattack.

Alaska Airlines is the fifth-largest carrier in the US, flying to over 120 destinations and serving more than 44 million passengers annually. It operates an all-Boeing fleet under its mainline brand, with additional regional flights through Horizon Air.

Speculations of an outage related to Microsoft also surfaced on Sunday, after the tech company announced that there were 'active attacks' on its servers. Although Alaska Airlines has not confirmed any such connection.

What's Next for Travellers?

As of now, operations are continuing to stabilise, but Alaska Airlines has cautioned that residual delays may persist into the early part of the week. On their X (formerly Twitter), the airline wrote, 'Alaska Airlines has resolved its earlier IT outage and has resumed operations. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience, and encourage guests to check your flight status before heading to the airport.'

Furthermore, travellers are advised to check for updates on the airline's website or mobile app and contact customer support for rebooking if necessary.

Originally published on IBTimes UK

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Alaska airlines, Travel news