Alaska Airlines Grounds Fleet Due to IT Outage: Potential Impacts on Travel and Business Operations
Alaska Airlines Implements Ground Stop Due to IT Outage
Washington: Alaska Airlines has instituted a ground stop for all its mainline aircraft, as announced in an advisory by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to an IT outage.
On Sunday, the airline reported to AFP that it was experiencing a "significant IT outage affecting our operations" and has requested a temporary, system-wide ground halt for both Alaska and Horizon Air flights until the issue is resolved.
The FAA’s status page confirmed that the ground stop was impacting all destinations served by Alaska’s mainline aircraft. The agency has not yet responded to requests for comment from AFP. In a statement, Alaska Airlines apologized for the travel disruption and urged passengers to check their flight statuses before arriving at the airport. "We apologize to our guests for this inconvenience," the airline stated.
The airline indicated that there would be residual impacts to operations continuing into the evening. This announcement, posted on X, elicited frustration from passengers, with one user, Caleb Heimlich, commenting, "This is brutal. We’ve been sitting at the airport for two hours." Another user, BetterDays, expressed disappointment regarding the timing of the announcement, stating, "This started at 8 PM, and you’re just posting this now?! Your service has gone way down over the last 5 years."
This incident follows a significant safety concern from January of the previous year, when a door plug section of a new Boeing 737 Max 9 failed during a flight between Portland, Oregon, and Ontario, California, leading to rapid cabin decompression. Fortunately, all 171 passengers and six crew members survived the incident. This occurrence prompted the FAA to ground several Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft operated by U.S. airlines.
Last month, U.S. investigators identified Boeing’s inadequate training for manufacturing staff as a key factor contributing to the near-catastrophic mid-flight blowout experienced by Alaska Airlines.
According to its website, Alaska Air Group operates a fleet of 325 aircraft, which includes 238 Boeing 737 planes and 87 Embraer 175 aircraft.
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The IT outage at Alaska Airlines highlights the vulnerability of operational systems in the aviation industry, presenting a cautionary tale for businesses in Oman that rely on technology. This incident could create opportunities for local tech firms to offer robust IT solutions and crisis management services to enhance operational resilience. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should consider investing in technology and training to mitigate similar risks in their sectors and ensure smooth operations.
