Alaska Airlines Resumes Flights Nationwide After Tech Outage Ground Stop
Alaska Airlines has resumed its flight operations after a significant technical issue caused a nationwide ground stop. The disruption, which affected both Alaska Airlines and its regional partner Horizon Air, was announced via social media at 3:24 a.m. EDT on Friday.
Details of the Ground Stop
The ground stop was lifted at 11:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Alaska Airlines stated that it was dedicated to restoring services safely and efficiently.
Flight Disruptions
As a result of the outage, over 229 flights were canceled. Flight tracking website FlightAware reported that 256 Alaska Air flights were canceled and 234 experienced delays between Thursday and Friday. The exact number affected during the ground stop remains unclear.
- Ground Stop Lifted: 11:30 p.m. Pacific Time
- Flight Cancellations: 256 total on Thursday and Friday
- Delayed Flights: 234 reported delays
Alaska Airlines expressed gratitude for the patience of its customers during this disruption. The airline encourages travelers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
Flexible Travel Policies
In response to the situation, Alaska Airlines has implemented a flexible travel policy. This adjustment is meant to assist passengers affected by the IT outage.
As the airline works to normalize operations, it remains committed to getting passengers to their destinations as swiftly as possible.
Background Context
Alaska Airlines, headquartered in Seattle, operates a vast network, servicing 140 destinations worldwide, including 37 states and 12 countries. This incident occurs amidst a broader context of air travel challenges in the U.S., partly due to the ongoing government shutdown and air traffic controller shortages.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can issue ground stops, often at the request of airlines, to manage serious operational issues. Alaska Airlines has not provided further information regarding the specifics of the recent technical outage.
