On Thursday, October 23, 2025, a major IT outage disrupted Alaska Airlines’ operations, grounding flights across the U.S. and causing widespread travel chaos.
Starting around 4:21 p.m. PDT, the system failure halted all departures for Alaska Airlines and its subsidiary, Horizon Air, and impacted airport operations, including at Bellingham International Airport (BLI).
The airline advised passengers to verify flight statuses before heading to airports. This article delves into the outage, its effects, and what travelers can expect moving forward.
Alaska Airlines IT Outage
The IT outage affected critical systems, shutting down check-in counters, boarding processes, and baggage handling nationwide. At Alaska Airlines’ request, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enforced a temporary ground stop, pausing all U.S. flights in the carrier’s network.
The stop lasted over two hours, with limited operations resuming later that evening. Delays and cancellations spilled into Friday, October 24, 2025, as the airline scrambled to recover.
Alaska Airlines shared an update on X: “We’re experiencing an IT outage impacting operations. A ground stop is in effect. Please check your flight status before traveling.”
While the exact cause wasn’t disclosed, the airline confirmed its IT team was working to fix the issue. This marks Alaska’s second major disruption in 2025, following a July outage tied to a data center hardware failure that stopped flights for three hours.
Impact on Passengers
The outage left thousands of passengers stranded, with social media buzzing about long waits, app failures, and check-in issues.
Flightradar24 noted roughly 100 fewer Alaska flights in the air compared to the prior week, signaling significant cancellations.
The airline urged travelers to use its website or app for updates to avoid unnecessary airport visits.Bellingham International Airport (BLI), a key hub in Washington, felt the impact acutely.
Station operations, including ticketing and boarding, were paralyzed during the ground stop. While BLI faced no unique problems beyond the system-wide failure, the outage added to regional travel woes, exacerbated by air traffic controller shortages from an ongoing federal government shutdown.
Notably, Hawaiian Airlines, recently acquired by Alaska Air Group, operated without issues, while Horizon Air shared the same disruptions as its parent company.
Airline Response
The incident highlights the fragility of airline IT infrastructure, a recurring issue in U.S. aviation. A July 2024 CrowdStrike outage grounded multiple carriers, exposing similar vulnerabilities.
Although Alaska Airlines ruled out a cyberattack, online discussions speculated about potential causes.
The airline has been proactive, responding to passenger queries and offering rebooking or refund options. Travelers are encouraged to check flight statuses via the airline’s digital platforms for real-time information.
Looking Ahead
As of October 24, 2025, Alaska Airlines is restoring services, but lingering delays are likely. Passengers should plan for flexibility and monitor updates closely. This outage underscores the importance of preparedness in air travel.
