What happened
Alaska Airlines paused flights nationwide after a significant information-technology outage forced a system-wide ground stop. The carrier says operations were restored late Thursday night, with the ground stop lifted at 11:30 p.m. Pacific time — basically, the airline’s systems took an unexpected coffee break and then slowly came back online.
How many flights were affected
Disruption was widespread. The airline reported hundreds of cancellations and delays as it scrambled to reposition planes and crews. Flight-tracking tallies put the total canceled flights in the mid-200s and delays in the low-200s as of early Friday, though it’s unclear exactly how many of those were during the ground stop itself. Bottom line: expect continued ripple effects for a while.
What the airline is saying (in plain speak)
Alaska Airlines thanked customers for their patience and said it’s working to get people to their destinations as quickly and safely as possible. They recommended passengers check flight status before heading to the airport and noted a flexible travel policy is in place while operations normalize.
Why ground stops happen
Ground stops are directives usually issued by the Federal Aviation Administration to prevent more planes from taking off when there are system problems or other safety concerns. They’re not common everyday fun, but they’re a tool regulators use to keep things from getting messier.
Wider context
Air travel in the U.S. has been bumpier than usual lately — staffing issues and other strains have already caused delays at some airports. Alaska Airlines, a major West Coast carrier with service to many destinations, says it’s working through the backlog as crews and aircraft are shuffled back into place.
Tips for travelers
If you’re flying with Alaska in the next day or two, check your flight status before leaving home, give yourself extra time, and be prepared for possible changes. Treat your ticket like a flexible yoga pose right now.
Tags: Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines
