On Thursday, October 23, 2025, Alaska Airlines cancels flights across the United States after suffering a massive IT outage that paralyzed its entire network. The technical failure led to hundreds of canceled and delayed flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at airports and prompting frustration and confusion nationwide.
The airline confirmed that the issue stemmed from a major breakdown in its internal operating systems, which handle flight scheduling, crew coordination, and passenger check-in. The disruption triggered an immediate ground stop that halted all Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights for several hours.
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How the Alaska Airlines Cancellations Unfolded
The chaos began around 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time when Alaska Airlines detected a widespread malfunction within its flight operations control system. Within minutes, flights were grounded nationwide as the airline worked to identify the cause and restore service.
Passengers across major airports including Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, and Anchorage were left waiting in terminals as departure boards turned red with “CANCELED” and “DELAYED” notices.
Alaska Airlines issued an official statement saying that it had decided to ground flights “out of an abundance of caution” while the IT team investigated. The airline emphasized that the issue was not caused by a cybersecurity threat but rather by an internal technical failure.
By evening, most Alaska Airlines flights remained grounded, and the effects quickly rippled across the entire U.S. aviation network.
Airports Hit the Hardest
Alaska Airlines is one of the largest carriers on the West Coast, and its operational hub in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) faced the brunt of the disruption. Lines stretched across terminals as passengers waited for updates or rebooking options.
Here’s how the impact broke down across major hubs:
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA): More than 120 flights canceled, hundreds delayed.
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): Dozens of Alaska flights grounded, affecting both domestic and regional routes.
- Portland International Airport (PDX): Nearly half of Alaska’s scheduled flights delayed or canceled.
- Anchorage (ANC): Dozens of regional routes canceled, stranding travelers across Alaska.
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO): Operations slowed as flights were diverted or postponed.
As a result, tens of thousands of travelers faced disrupted schedules, missed connections, and overnight delays.
What the Airline Said
In a public statement, Alaska Airlines acknowledged the widespread cancellations and apologized to passengers.
“We are experiencing a major systems issue that is impacting our flight operations. We’ve made the decision to pause all departures while we work to resolve this issue safely,” the statement read. “We sincerely apologize to our guests for this disruption and appreciate their patience as we work around the clock to restore service.”
The airline added that its IT teams were making progress on system restoration but warned that passengers should expect residual delays and cancellations through the following day as operations recovered.
What Caused the Alaska Airlines Outage
While Alaska Airlines has not released a full technical report, internal sources suggested the outage was triggered by a server synchronization failure within its core flight operations system.
This system manages essential airline functions such as:
- Flight dispatch and scheduling
- Crew assignments and logistics
- Gate coordination and aircraft tracking
- Passenger check-in and boarding
When communication between these systems broke down, Alaska lost its ability to safely manage and track flights. As a safety measure, all departures were suspended until systems could be verified and restored.
The airline stressed that no safety incidents occurred as a result of the outage.
Passengers Describe Widespread Frustration
The sudden wave of cancellations left thousands of passengers stranded at airports across the country. Many reported waiting for hours without clear communication from the airline.
Some travelers described scenes of confusion and overcrowding, with lines stretching hundreds of feet at Alaska’s check-in counters.
“I got to the airport three hours early, and my flight was canceled with no explanation,” said one passenger in Seattle. “The staff said the computers were down, and they couldn’t rebook anyone manually.”
Others took to social media to share their frustration, posting photos of blank departure screens, long waits, and lack of available customer service.
By evening, Alaska’s website and mobile app also experienced downtime, preventing travelers from accessing flight updates or rebooking options.
Second Outage in Three Months
This marks the second major systems failure for Alaska Airlines in 2025. In July, the airline suffered a similar but shorter IT outage that grounded flights for nearly three hours.
The recurrence of another system-wide failure so soon after the last one has sparked concern about the airline’s infrastructure and its ability to handle modern data demands.
Aviation experts say many airlines operate on aging software that is prone to glitches or breakdowns. With the increasing complexity of air travel technology, even minor failures can cause massive ripple effects across entire networks.
Economic and Operational Fallout
The Alaska Airlines cancellations led to significant financial losses. Airline analysts estimate that large-scale operational disruptions like this can cost airlines millions of dollars per hour in lost revenue, refunds, and passenger compensation.
The ripple effect also impacted airport operations, ground staff, and other carriers sharing gates and equipment with Alaska.
Additionally, stranded passengers filled nearby hotels, causing an increase in same-day bookings around major airports such as Seattle and Portland.
For businesses relying on air cargo, the outage delayed shipments across the West Coast. The full economic impact will likely take days to assess.
How Passengers Can Manage Cancellations
For travelers affected by Alaska Airlines cancellations, the airline has provided several options to minimize inconvenience:
- Check flight status before traveling: Use the Alaska Airlines website or app (once systems are restored) to confirm flight details.
- Request a refund or rebooking: Passengers on canceled flights can opt for a full refund, travel credit, or rebooking on the next available flight.
- Stay informed through official channels: Avoid relying on third-party travel websites or social media rumors.
- Pack essentials in carry-on bags: Always keep medications, chargers, and snacks on hand in case of long delays.
- Monitor airport updates: Many airports post real-time flight information via their social media channels.
Travel insurance may also help cover hotel and meal expenses during disruptions like these.
Industry Reaction and Next Steps
Aviation analysts say the Alaska Airlines outage underscores a growing problem in the airline industry — an overreliance on fragile IT systems. Many carriers are running on decades-old technology patched together with modern software, making them vulnerable to cascading failures.
Alaska Airlines has pledged to conduct a comprehensive internal review of the incident and upgrade its technology to prevent similar issues in the future.
The airline stated that safety remained its top priority throughout the disruption:
“While we know this caused major frustration, our decision to cancel flights was guided by safety and operational integrity,” a spokesperson said. “We will do everything we can to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
Final Thoughts
The headline Alaska Airlines cancels flights captures more than just a temporary setback — it reflects a growing challenge in modern aviation. With airlines increasingly dependent on complex technology, even a small glitch can bring entire fleets to a halt.
For passengers, the outage was a frustrating reminder that technology, while efficient, can also be a single point of failure. For Alaska Airlines, it’s a costly lesson in the importance of system resilience and transparency.
As operations gradually return to normal, the airline faces the task of rebuilding traveler confidence and ensuring its systems can withstand the demands of modern air travel.
If you were affected by the Alaska Airlines cancellations, share your experience below — your story could help other travelers prepare for similar situations in the future.