Alaska Airlines has suspended all flights, including those operated by its regional subsidiary, Horizon Air, due to an information technology outage that is significantly affecting operations. The ground stop commenced at approximately 20:00 PT (23:00 ET) on October 15, 2023, according to statements made by the airline.
The decision to halt flights was made to manage the ongoing issues until they are resolved. Alaska Airlines confirmed this in a statement issued to CNN, noting, “We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights until the issue is resolved.” Horizon Air primarily serves the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, and its operations are now also impacted by the outage.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Alaska Airlines reiterated that the IT outage is significantly affecting its operations. While the specific cause of the outage remains unreported, the airline cautioned passengers about potential delays and advised them to check their flight statuses prior to arriving at the airport.
“We apologize to our guests for this inconvenience. There will be residual impacts to our operation throughout the evening,” the statement added.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that it received a request to ground all mainline flights of Alaska Airlines at around 22:52 ET on the same day. This prompted a widespread disruption for both airlines, affecting travelers across various routes.
As the situation develops, Alaska Airlines is working to address the technical issues and resume normal operations. Passengers are encouraged to stay updated through the airline’s official communication channels for the latest information regarding their flights.
This incident underscores the critical role that technology plays in modern air travel and the significant ripple effects that technical failures can create across the aviation sector. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
