A widespread Alaska Airlines outage on October 23, 2025, threw U.S. air travel into chaos after a critical IT system failure grounded all flights across the airline’s network. The disruption affected both Alaska Airlines and its regional carrier, Horizon Air, forcing thousands of passengers to delay or cancel their plans.
The airline later confirmed that the outage stemmed from an internal technical malfunction—not a cyberattack—and that operations were gradually restored within hours. However, the impact rippled into Friday morning, leaving travelers frustrated and airports scrambling to catch up.
A Sudden Shutdown That Halted the Skies
The trouble began in the late afternoon when Alaska Airlines’ central data center experienced a severe system failure. This crash disrupted the airline’s ability to manage flight operations, scheduling, gate assignments, and aircraft tracking—all of which are essential for takeoffs and landings.
Within minutes, Alaska Airlines requested a nationwide ground stop through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Every Alaska and Horizon Air flight scheduled to depart was halted, and those already in the air were prioritized for safe landings at their destinations.
The airline announced that several “key operational systems” were offline, making it impossible to safely coordinate flights. Crews were instructed to remain with grounded planes while technicians worked urgently to restore the systems.
Timeline of the Alaska Airlines Outage
| Time (Pacific) | Event |
|---|---|
| 3:30 PM | Alaska Airlines detects a critical system failure at its primary data center. |
| 3:45 PM | FAA issues a ground stop affecting all Alaska and Horizon flights. |
| 4:00–6:30 PM | Flights remain grounded nationwide; passengers report widespread delays. |
| 6:45 PM | Engineers begin restoring affected systems; limited operations restart. |
| 8:30 PM | Gradual resumption of flights begins, though delays continue into the night. |
| 10:30 PM | Airline confirms systems are back online; residual delays persist into Friday. |
This timeline paints a clear picture of how quickly the outage unfolded—and how long it took for the airline to recover fully. Even after the systems were restored, scheduling backlogs and displaced crews continued to cause delays.
How Travelers Were Affected
Passengers across the United States—from Seattle to Los Angeles and Chicago to Anchorage—were left stranded or stuck on tarmacs as the outage paralyzed Alaska Airlines’ flight network. Many travelers described chaotic scenes at airports, with long lines at check-in counters and customer service desks.
For those already on board, pilots informed passengers that the airline’s communication systems were down, preventing clearance for departure. Some flights were eventually canceled outright due to timing and crew limits.
The outage also affected the airline’s mobile app and website. Customers were unable to check in online, view boarding passes, or make flight changes during the outage window. Many resorted to social media to get updates from Alaska Airlines’ communications team.
To help stranded passengers, the airline introduced a flexible travel policy:
- Passengers with tickets for October 23 or 24 could rebook without fees through October 27.
- Travelers could also cancel their trips for a full refund if they no longer wished to travel.
- Those stuck overnight due to flight cancellations received hotel and meal vouchers at select airports.
What Alaska Airlines Said
Alaska Airlines issued a public statement acknowledging the disruption and apologizing to passengers. The airline confirmed the cause as an IT systems failure linked to its main data center, emphasizing that there was no indication of a cybersecurity breach.
“Our teams worked urgently to restore systems and resume safe operations,” the airline said. “We understand how disruptive this has been for our guests and crews, and we’re taking immediate steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
By late evening, the airline confirmed that flights were resuming on a rolling basis, though delays and cancellations would continue through Friday as schedules were rebalanced.
Not the First Outage This Year
This marks the second major IT outage Alaska Airlines has faced in 2025. A similar event in July forced the airline to ground all flights for nearly three hours due to a technical failure at another data center.
Repeated incidents have raised questions about the resilience of Alaska Airlines’ IT infrastructure. Aviation analysts have pointed out that major airlines depend heavily on complex digital systems—any weakness in those systems can have immediate and widespread consequences.
Industry experts stress that while airlines prioritize safety through redundant mechanical and navigational systems, many have lagged in building equivalent redundancies into their IT operations. As a result, when software or network failures occur, the entire system grinds to a halt.
Nationwide Ripple Effects
The Alaska Airlines outage didn’t just affect its own passengers—it caused secondary disruptions throughout the national airspace system.
When one large carrier grounds its fleet, gates, taxiways, and takeoff slots at major airports get backed up. Other airlines, including Delta, United, and American, often experience ripple effects as air traffic controllers adjust schedules and sequencing.
Airports such as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Alaska’s primary hub, and Portland International Airport (PDX) saw the heaviest impacts. Passengers there faced overcrowded terminals and extended wait times as Alaska worked to reassign crews and reposition aircraft.
Impact on Alaska Air Group’s Operations
The outage adds to the mounting challenges facing Alaska Air Group, the airline’s parent company. The company had already trimmed its 2025 profit outlook earlier this month, citing higher fuel costs and operational disruptions.
The latest outage may further pressure Alaska’s bottom line as compensation costs, refunds, and lost revenue accumulate. Industry observers estimate that even a three-hour ground stop can cost major airlines millions of dollars in lost productivity and passenger compensation.
Beyond financials, Alaska Airlines now faces reputational concerns. In an era where travelers value punctuality and reliability, repeated IT failures can erode public trust—particularly among frequent fliers and business travelers.
What Passengers Should Do Now
For travelers booked with Alaska Airlines over the next few days, experts recommend several practical steps:
- Check your flight status frequently. Use the Alaska Airlines app or website before heading to the airport, as some residual delays may continue.
- Arrive early. Expect longer lines at check-in and security as the airline works through the backlog.
- Use your rebooking options. If your flight was canceled, rebook through October 27 without fees.
- Stay informed. Sign up for flight alerts and monitor Alaska Airlines’ official channels for real-time updates.
- Keep receipts. If you incur extra costs (meals, lodging, transport) during the disruption, retain documentation for potential reimbursement.
A Broader Lesson for the Aviation Industry
The Alaska Airlines outage is part of a growing pattern of IT disruptions in global aviation. Similar incidents have affected major carriers worldwide in recent years—from United Airlines to British Airways—highlighting the vulnerability of air travel’s digital backbone.
As airlines modernize their fleets and expand digital services, their reliance on interconnected systems grows. Yet, without strong redundancy and real-time monitoring, even a minor server issue can escalate into a full-scale operational crisis.
This latest outage serves as a wake-up call not only for Alaska Airlines but for the entire airline industry. Reliable digital infrastructure is no longer optional—it’s essential for safety, scheduling, and passenger confidence.
Alaska Airlines’ Recovery Efforts
By early morning on October 24, Alaska Airlines reported that it had restored all critical systems. The airline said it would conduct a comprehensive internal review to identify the root cause and strengthen backup systems to prevent future outages.
Teams from both Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air worked overnight to reset operations, reposition aircraft, and reassign flight crews. By dawn, the airline’s online systems—including booking, check-in, and flight tracking—were fully operational again.
While recovery has been swift, industry observers note that consistent outages could prompt the airline to invest heavily in data-center upgrades, cloud-based infrastructure, and enhanced disaster recovery systems.
The Road Ahead
As the airline moves past this disruption, attention now turns to whether it can rebuild trust with passengers and regulators. The FAA is expected to review Alaska’s internal report once complete, assessing whether additional safeguards or regulatory actions are warranted.
In the meantime, travelers are advised to stay alert for any residual effects. Most operations are expected to normalize by the weekend, though a small number of flights may continue to experience rescheduling.
If you were affected by the Alaska Airlines outage, share your experience below and stay informed as the airline continues to recover and strengthen its systems.