Alaska Airlines Faces Nationwide Ground Stop Due to Tech Outage

Alaska Airlines experienced a significant operational disruption on Thursday evening, halting all departures for several hours due to a major IT issue. The ground stop was announced shortly after 7:20 p.m. EDT, affecting both Alaska Airlines’ mainline flights and those operated by its regional subsidiary, Horizon Air.

While this tech outage caused widespread delays and cancellations across Alaska’s extensive network, which includes key West Coast hubs in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, it did not impact Hawaiian Airlines. A spokesperson confirmed that Hawaiian operates as a separate brand under the same parent company as Alaska Airlines.

In a statement shared on its official social media accounts, Alaska Airlines expressed its regret for the inconvenience caused to travelers. “If you’re scheduled to fly tonight, please check your flight status before heading to the airport,” the airline advised.

As the situation unfolded, the airline’s mobile app displayed a notification regarding the ongoing technical difficulties affecting its systems. Although the exact number of affected flights was not immediately available, the multi-hour disruption raised concerns about potential cascading travel issues that could linger into Thursday night and possibly affect operations on Friday.

To assist passengers during this challenging time, Alaska Airlines issued a travel waiver, granting additional flexibility for those impacted. This waiver applies to flights originally scheduled for Thursday or Friday, allowing travelers to rebook their journeys to any date between Thursday and the following Monday.

Passengers facing flight cancellations or significant delays have rights under U.S. Department of Transportation policies, which entitle them to refunds if they opt not to fly instead of accepting a rebooking. Furthermore, Alaska Airlines has committed to accommodating passengers during major disruptions within its control, such as this tech outage. More information on passenger rights can be found on the DOT’s FlightRights.gov dashboard.

In light of the recent developments, travelers are encouraged to stay informed about their flight status and make necessary adjustments to their travel plans. Alaska Airlines remains dedicated to ensuring that passengers are supported during these unexpected challenges.