Alaska Airlines Warns of Major Disruptions After Fleet Grounded

Alaska Airlines Faces Ongoing Flight Disruptions Following IT Outage

Alaska Airlines has issued warnings about ongoing flight disruptions after it was forced to ground its entire fleet due to an IT outage on Sunday. The airline temporarily halted all flights, including those operated under its Horizon Air brand, until the issue could be resolved. This unexpected event has caused significant inconvenience for passengers and disrupted travel plans across the country.

Why It Matters

The impact of the IT outage is expected to be widespread, with many travelers facing delays that could extend into the following week. Alaska Airlines serves millions of passengers annually, with Statista reporting that the airline carried approximately 41.5 million flyers in 2022 alone. As a result, the disruption affects not only individual travelers but also businesses and families relying on timely air travel.

What Passengers Need to Know

Following the IT issues that began around 8:00 p.m., Alaska Airlines took to social media to inform passengers about the situation. On X (formerly Twitter), the airline posted: "We are currently experiencing an IT outage that's impacting our operations. We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop until the issue is resolved. We sincerely apologize to our guests for this inconvenience. If you are traveling tonight, please check the status of your flight before leaving for the airport."

Around three hours later, the airline updated its message, stating, "Alaska Airlines has resolved its earlier IT outage and has resumed operations. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and encourage guests to check your flight status before heading to the airport."

A more detailed account of the incident was shared on the Alaska Airlines News account on X, which stated: "At approximately 8 p.m. Pacific on July 20, we experienced an IT outage that resulted in a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights. As of 11 p.m. Pacific, the ground stop has been lifted, and our operations have resumed."

The airline acknowledged that it would take time to return to normal operations and apologized for the inconvenience caused to its customers.

A History of Challenges

This is not the first time that Alaska Airlines has faced operational challenges. In January 2024, the airline was forced to ground its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX-9 planes after a mid-flight blowout left a gaping hole in the fuselage of one of its aircraft. Despite these incidents, the airline has been recognized as one of the safest in the world. In January of this year, Alaska Airlines was the only American-based carrier to make the top 10 in an annual list of the world's safest airlines. Air New Zealand was ranked as the safest airline globally, while Alaska Airlines came in ninth place. The assessment by AirlineRatings.com considered factors such as pilot training, fleet age, and the number of safety incidents reported.

Passenger Response and Next Steps

In a statement released on Sunday night, Alaska Airlines said: "At approximately 8 p.m. Pacific on July 20, we experienced an IT outage that resulted in a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights. As of 11 p.m. Pacific, the ground stop has been lifted, and our operations have resumed. As we reposition our aircraft and crews, there will most likely be residual impacts to our flights. It will take some time to get our overall operations back to normal. We apologize for the inconvenience and encourage guests to check the status of your flight before leaving for the airport."

Passengers are advised to monitor their flight status regularly and check the airline’s social media accounts for the latest updates. With ongoing efforts to restore normal operations, travelers are encouraged to remain patient and stay informed.

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