Alaska Airlines, one of the largest U.S. carriers based in Seattle, faced an unexpected nationwide disruption on Thursday when a major IT outage grounded all its flights, including those of regional partner Horizon Air. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary ground stop, leaving thousands of travelers stranded as the airline worked to restore its systems.
The outage, traced to a failure at Alaska Airlines’ main data center, affected booking systems, mobile apps, and other essential operational services. Flights were delayed or canceled across major hubs, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where over 140 departures were reported late.
“This was an unexpected disruption, and we sincerely apologize to our passengers,” Alaska Airlines said on social media, urging travelers to check their flight status before heading to airports. Hawaiian Airlines, also part of the Alaska Air Group, reported no impact and continued operations normally.
This is in fact the second significant IT-related issue affecting the entire operations for Alaska Airlines, this year. A similar incident in July forced a three-hour grounding of all flights due to a hardware failure. The airline has now activated flexible travel policies for affected passengers and is prioritizing the rapid restoration of normal operations.
Alaska Airlines, together with Horizon Air and Hawaiian Airlines, forms one of the largest U.S. carriers, serving 140 destinations across 37 states and 12 countries. The airline is known for its strong focus on customer service and reliability, with Horizon Air expanding its domestic reach.
Passengers are advised to stay updated on flight statuses as Alaska Airlines works to restore operations. The airline has assured travelers that it is prioritizing safety and efficiency, committed to minimizing further disruptions while helping affected passengers reach their destinations.
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