Alaska Airlines faced significant operational chaos after a major IT system failure forced the carrier to ground numerous flights, leaving passengers stranded across airports.
The outage, which began in the early hours of the morning, disrupted check-in systems, boarding processes, and flight operations, leading to extensive delays and cancellations.
Passengers Left in Limbo
Frustrated travellers took to social media to express their grievances as Alaska Airlines staff struggled to manage the fallout. Many reported being unable to check in online or at kiosks, while others faced indefinite delays with no clear resolution in sight.
Airline Response
In a statement, Alaska Airlines apologised for the inconvenience and assured customers that IT teams were working urgently to restore systems. The airline advised affected passengers to monitor their website and app for updates.
"We deeply regret the disruption caused by this technical issue," a spokesperson said. "Our priority is to minimise passenger inconvenience and resume normal operations as quickly as possible."
Wider Impact
The outage also affected partner airlines, with some code-shared flights experiencing delays. Industry experts warn that such IT failures highlight the vulnerability of modern aviation systems to technical glitches.
Passengers are advised to check flight statuses before heading to airports and consider alternative travel arrangements if necessary.
