Alaska Airlines says its operations have been restored after a major IT outage on Thursday night forced the airline to ground all flights nationwide, disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted the ground stop around 11:30 p.m. PST, following a system failure in Alaska Airlines’ primary data center. The airline confirmed the issue was not related to a cyberattack or external event.
“We’re working to get our operations back on track as quickly and safely as possible,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement.
More Than 229 Flights Canceled
The airline confirmed that over 229 flights were canceled, with additional delays expected as crews and aircraft are repositioned across its network.
“We appreciate the patience of our guests whose travel plans have been disrupted,” the company said. “We’re working to get them to their destinations as quickly as we can. Before heading to the airport, we encourage flyers to check their flight status.”
Alaska Airlines also implemented a flexible travel policy to assist affected passengers while operations stabilize.
IT Failure Traced to Data Center Outage
According to the airline, the outage stemmed from a failure in its primary data center, disrupting key operational systems used to manage flight scheduling and dispatching.
The company emphasized that the outage was not the result of a cyberattack, distinguishing it from similar events that have affected other airlines in recent years.
Letitia James Faces Federal Charges of Mortgage Fraud Amid Backlash
Horizon Air Also Impacted
The disruption extended to Horizon Air, a regional carrier owned by Alaska Airlines. However, Hawaiian Airlines flights were unaffected, officials confirmed.
The FAA initially issued the ground stop around 7:30 p.m. ET after a formal request from Alaska Airlines, citing operational safety concerns.
Second IT Outage This Year
This marks the second major IT outage for Alaska Airlines in 2025. In July, a separate technical issue halted flights for roughly three hours, highlighting the airline industry’s growing reliance on centralized digital infrastructure.
Looking Ahead
Alaska Airlines operates around 1,500 flights daily across the U.S. and 12 international destinations. The carrier said it is conducting a full review of the incident to prevent future disruptions.
The airline added that passengers should continue to monitor flight status updates online and take advantage of its flexible rebooking options as normal operations resume.
