Alaska Airlines Ground Stop Lifted, But Delays Frustrate Travelers

Alaska Airlines Resumes Operations After IT Outage

Alaska Airlines has successfully lifted a ground stop that halted all flights for nearly three hours late Sunday night, following an IT outage. However, the airline is still dealing with the aftermath of the incident on Monday.

The ground stop affected the entire fleet, which includes 238 Alaska and Horizon jets. The issue was first reported around 8 p.m., prompting the airline to request a temporary, system-wide halt in operations until the problem was resolved. By shortly after 11 p.m., the company confirmed that the ground stop had been lifted, and all operations were back to normal.

According to Alaska Airlines, the disruption was caused by a critical piece of multi-redundant hardware at their data centers, manufactured by a third-party supplier. This component experienced an unexpected failure, which did not involve any cybersecurity threats. The malfunction impacted several key systems necessary for the airline’s daily operations, leading to the decision to ground all flights temporarily.

Despite the technical difficulties, the airline emphasized that the safety of its passengers and crew was never compromised. Since the incident began, nearly 200 flights have been canceled, affecting approximately 13,500 travelers.

Passengers shared their frustrations on social media, with one video showing people stranded on the tarmac inside an Alaska Airlines plane for hours at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). KOMO News's Jeremy Harris was on the scene, describing long lines of passengers waiting to rebook their flights. Many travelers expressed frustration, stating they were unable to leave the airport as nearby hotels were fully booked.

Alaska Airlines acknowledged that while its systems are now operational, residual delays and disruptions are expected throughout the day. The airline urged passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Travelers can access real-time updates through the airline’s official website.

As the fifth-largest airline in the United States, Alaska Airlines serves more than 120 destinations across five countries and caters to over 44 million customers annually. On July 21, the airline issued a statement on its website, detailing the events of the previous night.

The statement read:

"As of 11 a.m. on Monday, we continue to get our operations back on track at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air following a significant IT outage that resulted in a system-wide ground stop of flights. The ground stop began around 8 p.m. on Sunday and was lifted at 11 p.m. Pacific.

A critical piece of multi-redundant hardware at our data centers, manufactured by a third-party, experienced an unexpected failure. When that happened, it impacted several of our key systems that enable us to run various operations, necessitating the implementation of a ground stop to keep aircraft in position. The safety of our flights was never compromised.

Since Sunday evening, we’ve had a total of nearly 200 flight cancellations. We’ve experienced 104 cancellations today, which have affected the travel plans of 13,500 guests. Additional flight disruptions are possible. There are also flight delays as we reposition our aircraft and crews.

The IT outage is not related to any other current events, and it’s not a cybersecurity event.

We are currently working with our vendor to replace the hardware equipment at the data center.

We appreciate the patience of our guests whose travel plans have been disrupted. We’re working to get them to their destinations as quickly as we can. If you’re traveling today, please check your flight status before leaving for the airport. Also, a flexible travel policy is in place to support our guests."

Ongoing Challenges and Passenger Support

The airline continues to work closely with its vendors to resolve the underlying issue and restore full functionality to its systems. While some flights have already resumed, others are still experiencing delays as the airline adjusts its schedule and repositions staff and aircraft.

Passengers are advised to remain vigilant and check their flight status regularly. Alaska Airlines has also implemented a flexible travel policy to assist those affected by the disruptions. The airline remains committed to ensuring the safety and satisfaction of its customers, even in the face of unexpected challenges.