Alaska Airlines forced to ground flights Monday due to IT issues

Alaska Airlines faced significant operational challenges when IT issues resulted in the grounding of flights at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for about 40 minutes on a Monday morning. The airline initiated a ground stop at 11:20 a. m. to manage aircraft congestion, which lasted until noon. This disruption occurred during a vital Cyber Monday flight sale, complicating travel plans for many customers trying to book flights through the airline's website and mobile application.

By late afternoon, data indicated that Alaska Airlines had experienced 156 delays and two cancellations, while its regional partner Horizon Airlines faced an additional 46 delays and four cancellations. The airline publicly apologized to affected passengers and is committed to resolving the technical difficulties. This incident adds to a series of IT-related problems faced by Alaska Airlines in 2024, raising concerns among customers regarding service reliability. The airline is currently working to restore full functionality and enhance customer experience amidst these technical setbacks.