Alaska Airlines Restores Flights After Nationwide IT Outage Disrupts Thousands

IT Outage Grounds Alaska Airlines Flights Nationwide

For thousands of travelers across the United States, Thursday evening brought a sudden halt to their plans as Alaska Airlines grounded its entire fleet due to a systemwide IT outage. The move, announced around 4:20 p.m. Pacific Time, left passengers stranded at airports from Seattle to Los Angeles, and beyond. In the digital age, a technical failure can ripple across the country in minutes, and this outage was no exception.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the ground stop affected not only Alaska Airlines but also its regional arm, Horizon Air. FlightAware, a leading flight tracking service, reported that by 7 p.m. in Seattle, 82 Alaska Airlines flights had been delayed and 17 cancelled. Los Angeles International Airport saw eight delays and one cancellation. Nationwide, the disruption was extensive: CBS News cited at least 39 flights cancelled and 241 delayed late Thursday night, while UPI reported 54 cancellations by early Friday.

Inside the Outage: Causes and Immediate Impact

Alaska Airlines traced the root of the problem to a failure at its primary data center, which occurred around 3:30 p.m. The outage disrupted several key systems critical for flight operations, prompting the airline to keep its planes grounded for safety reasons. In statements shared across social media and with news outlets, the airline emphasized that flight safety was never compromised during the incident. The company also clarified that the outage was not related to cybersecurity threats and did not affect Hawaiian Airlines flights, despite corporate ties.

Passengers, caught off guard, flooded social media with complaints about inaccessible websites and malfunctioning mobile apps. Alaska Airlines responded publicly, assuring customers that its IT team was working urgently to resolve the issues. For many, the outage was not just an inconvenience—it was a reminder of how dependent modern travel has become on complex technology. As one traveler wrote on X, “It’s like someone unplugged the whole airline.”

The timing of the outage added to the frustration. Alaska Air Group had just released its third-quarter earnings report, noting that a previous IT meltdown in July had already dented profits and forced a downward revision of its annual outlook. This October disruption, the second major tech failure in less than four months, further underscored the airline’s vulnerability to IT problems.

Flexible Travel Policies and Ongoing Restoration Efforts

Recognizing the widespread impact, Alaska Airlines quickly rolled out a flexible travel policy for affected passengers. Customers with tickets purchased on or before Thursday, for travel between Thursday and Friday, were given the option to rebook flights through Monday or cancel for a full refund. The airline encouraged travelers to check flight statuses before heading to the airport, aiming to minimize chaos at terminals nationwide.

As the evening wore on, Alaska Airlines provided frequent updates, signaling that systems were slowly coming back online. By late Thursday, the company stated it was “actively restoring operations,” though many flights remained grounded or delayed into Friday. The restoration process, while steady, highlighted the challenges of rebooting an airline’s infrastructure after a systemwide failure.

In an industry where punctuality and reliability are paramount, Alaska Airlines’ response was measured and transparent. The airline’s official communication channels—including its website, social media, and direct statements to media outlets like Business Insider, Los Angeles Times, and CBS News—were used to keep passengers informed about developments and options.

Broader Implications for Air Travel and Technology

Alaska Airlines is a major player in U.S. aviation, serving more than 140 destinations across 37 states and 12 countries. Its West Coast hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is a vital link for both domestic and international travelers. With a workforce of over 30,000 employees, the airline’s operational hiccups have far-reaching consequences.

This outage comes at a time when the U.S. aviation sector is under additional stress. An ongoing government shutdown has exacerbated staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, leading to more frequent delays and cancellations. For Alaska Airlines, the tech outage was a fresh challenge layered atop an already complex operational environment.

The incident also reignited discussion about the resilience of airline IT systems. As digital infrastructure becomes more integral to flight operations, the risk of wide-scale disruption grows. Alaska Airlines’ two major outages in 2025—one in July, another in October—are a stark reminder that even established carriers are not immune.

For travelers, the experience was sobering. Many wondered: How can airlines better safeguard their systems against future failures? And what contingency plans exist when technology falters?

Passenger Experiences and Industry Response

At airports, the effects of the outage were immediate and visible. Families, business travelers, and tourists waited anxiously for updates. Some scrambled to rebook on other carriers; others resigned themselves to an unexpected night in Seattle, Los Angeles, or elsewhere. Alaska Airlines staff, meanwhile, worked overtime to assist and reassure customers amid mounting frustration.

The airline’s decision to prioritize safety and transparency earned praise from some quarters, even as passengers voiced disappointment. Industry analysts noted that Alaska’s swift communication and flexible policies helped mitigate the worst of the chaos. Yet, the frequency of such outages raised questions about the adequacy of current IT investments.

As operations gradually resumed, Alaska Airlines faced the dual challenge of restoring trust and addressing the root causes of its technological vulnerabilities. The company’s leadership acknowledged the setbacks, vowing to invest further in system upgrades and emergency protocols.

For those caught in the disruption, the episode was a lesson in patience—and a prompt to reconsider how much confidence should be placed in technology when travel plans are at stake.

Alaska Airlines’ second major IT outage in 2025 exposed the fragility of airline technology infrastructure, disrupting thousands of lives and straining industry confidence. While the company’s transparent response and flexible policies cushioned the immediate blow, the recurrence of such failures signals a pressing need for robust investment in IT resilience across the aviation sector.