Alaska Airlines issued a temporary ground stoppage on Thursday due to an IT outage that affected its operations nationwide. The airline reported that it was actively working to restore services following the technical issues.
In a message posted on social media platform X, Alaska Airlines expressed its apologies for the inconvenience caused to passengers during this disruption. As of early Friday, the FlightAware air traffic tracking website indicated that 54 Alaska Airlines flights had been canceled, although it was not immediately clear if these cancellations were directly linked to the ground stoppage.
The timing of the ground halt coincides with broader challenges faced by the airline industry in the wake of a government shutdown that began on October 1. This prolonged shutdown has resulted in many air traffic controllers being ordered to work without pay, exacerbating staffing shortages and leading to a surge in flight cancellations and delays across the country.
This is not the first time Alaska Airlines has faced such operational challenges; earlier in July, the airline also implemented a system-wide ground stoppage due to a different IT-related issue. As the airline navigates ongoing technical and operational difficulties, passengers are urged to stay informed and check on the status of their flights.
