Alaska Airlines Flights Grounded; Present Status After Major IT Outage

Alaska Airlines has resumed its operations after a widespread information technology outage forced a temporary ground stop of all flights on Thursday. The airline confirmed that around 229 flights were canceled as it worked to restore normal service. Officials said more disruptions are expected as aircraft and crew are repositioned across key airports.

The airline announced Friday that its systems were back online and flights were again departing. However, it warned passengers that lingering delays and cancellations would continue throughout the day. Travelers were advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

Full Details on Alaska Airlines Flights Grounded Incident

The grounding began on Thursday afternoon when a critical hardware malfunction at the company’s primary data center caused an outage that affected flight operations and check-in systems. Both Alaska Airlines and its regional affiliate Horizon Air were impacted by the technical failure, prompting an immediate halt to departures nationwide.

In its statement, Alaska Airlines clarified that the issue was not the result of a cybersecurity breach. Instead, officials confirmed the outage stemmed from an internal technical problem with one of its core data systems. Engineers worked through the night to restore functions, gradually bringing systems back online by early Friday morning.

By Friday afternoon, most flights were operating again, although residual disruptions continued as the airline repositioned planes and crews. Around 229 flights were officially canceled, leaving thousands of travelers stranded or rebooked. A flexible travel policy was introduced to accommodate passengers whose travel plans were affected.

Hawaiian Airlines, which was acquired by Alaska Air Group in 2024, confirmed that its operations were unaffected and continued as scheduled. The company emphasized that flight safety was never compromised during the outage.

This is not the first time Alaska Airlines has faced such technical challenges. In July 2025, the carrier experienced a similar disruption after a hardware failure caused a three-hour grounding, leading to more than 150 cancellations. The recurrence has raised questions about the airline’s infrastructure resilience and backup protocols.

Impact on Travelers and the Airline Industry

The latest outage highlights the growing dependence of airlines on centralized digital infrastructure. When a critical component fails, the ripple effects can halt operations across the entire network. Experts say these incidents underline the need for stronger redundancy systems and modernized IT infrastructure within the aviation sector.

For passengers, the incident meant widespread delays, missed connections, and long lines at airports across the United States. Even after operations resumed, many travelers faced rebookings and overnight stays due to aircraft positioning issues. Alaska Airlines stated it was prioritizing stranded passengers and deploying additional staff to manage the disruption.

Industry observers note that IT failures have become increasingly common among major airlines, especially as carriers rely more heavily on automation and cloud-based scheduling systems. While most outages are temporary, they can result in significant financial losses and reputational damage.

In summary, Alaska Airlines flights were grounded for several hours due to an internal IT outage. Operations have now resumed, but passengers are advised to expect residual delays as the airline stabilizes its schedule.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)–

Q1: Why were Alaska Airlines flights grounded?

A hardware failure at the airline’s main data center caused a system outage that affected key operational systems, forcing a nationwide ground stop.

Q2: How many flights were canceled due to the outage?

The airline confirmed approximately 229 flight cancellations, with further disruptions expected as operations normalize.

Q3: Was this caused by a cybersecurity attack?

No. Alaska Airlines stated the outage was not linked to a cyberattack but to a technical malfunction within its IT infrastructure.

Q4: What should passengers do if they are scheduled to fly?

Passengers should check their flight status online or through the airline’s mobile app before heading to the airport, as delays and cancellations may continue.

Q5: Were other airlines affected by this outage?

Horizon Air, a regional carrier owned by Alaska Airlines, was impacted. However, Hawaiian Airlines, also part of Alaska Air Group, was not affected.