Alaska Airlines grounded all flights across the United States on Thursday due to a systemwide information technology outage, causing significant disruptions before operations began to resume later in the evening. The temporary ground stop stranded thousands of passengers and highlighted ongoing challenges in airline IT infrastructure, marking the second such incident for the carrier this year.
The outage prompted Alaska Airlines to issue a ground stop at all US airports on October 23, 2025, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration. The airline announced on social media platform X that it was experiencing an IT outage affecting its operations, without initially specifying the cause or expected duration. This precautionary measure was taken to ensure passenger safety amid the technical failure, affecting both Alaska Airlines and its regional subsidiary, Horizon Air, which operates under the same parent company.
The disruption impacted the airline’s entire fleet, halting departures and arrivals nationwide. Alaska Airlines, part of the Alaska Air Group based in Seattle, serves 140 destinations globally, including 37 US states and 12 countries, making the outage widespread. Passengers faced immediate cancellations and delays, with many left stranded at airports during peak evening travel times. Reports from various airports indicated long lines and frustration among travelers unable to proceed with their journeys, though Hawaiian Airlines flights, which merged with Alaska last year, were not affected.
By late Thursday, Alaska Airlines reported that it was actively restoring operations and had lifted the ground stop after several hours. The carrier stated that it was working to normalize schedules, though residual delays and cancellations were expected to persist into the night. This swift response aimed to minimize the impact on travelers, but full recovery required time to address backlogged flights and assist passengers with rebooking options, as the airline prioritized safety over expediency.
This incident marks the second IT outage for Alaska Airlines in 2025, following a similar event in July that halted flights for about three hours due to a hardware failure in the computer network. The recurrence raises serious concerns about the robustness of the airline’s technology systems and its preparedness for such failures. Industry experts note that repeated outages can erode customer trust and lead to financial losses from compensations and operational inefficiencies, emphasizing the need for proactive infrastructure upgrades.
The outage occurred against the backdrop of a government shutdown that has strained US air travel in recent weeks. A shortage of air traffic controllers reporting for work has already caused delays at several airports, compounding the operational challenges faced by airlines. This broader context amplified the disruption, highlighting vulnerabilities in the aviation system during periods of political and economic uncertainty, and underscoring the interconnected nature of airline operations and public infrastructure.
Looking ahead, Alaska Airlines is expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the root cause of the IT failure and implement corrective measures to prevent future occurrences. The airline may face regulatory scrutiny from aviation authorities and potential compensation claims from affected passengers under consumer protection laws. Travelers are advised to monitor flight statuses through official channels, such as the airline’s website or app, and contact customer service for rebooking options as operations gradually return to normal over the coming days, with lessons learned potentially influencing industry-wide IT security standards.