Alaska Airlines recently found itself in hot water after a ‘Cyber Monday’ seat sale ended up causing major IT issues that impacted departing flights, leading to chaos for thousands of passengers. The Seattle-based carrier had to issue public apologies as their website crashed due to overwhelming demand during the sale, resulting in significant operational disruptions. This unfortunate turn of events began on the morning of December 2, 2024, when the airline's IT systems malfunctioned, causing widespread service interruptions and preventing customers from booking tickets online.

As the situation worsened, Alaska Airlines was forced to implement a 40-minute ground stop at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, bringing all departures to a halt amidst the busy post-Thanksgiving travel rush. Though details about the specific cause of the IT issues remain sketchy, the airline acknowledged the substantial travel disruption that ensued. Passengers faced challenges in booking flights via the website, mobile app, and contact centers, prompting the carrier to urge travelers to check their flight statuses and consider rescheduling or canceling trips to mitigate the impact.

While the operational challenges were swiftly addressed, the airline continued to grapple with an unstable booking engine that caused ongoing issues throughout the day. This incident is not the first time Alaska Airlines has encountered IT troubles affecting its flight operations, with a previous outage in September 2024 and other problems in August 2024 that disrupted service and grounded flights in Seattle. The airline's repeated tech woes have underscored the importance of robust IT infrastructure in ensuring seamless travel experiences for passengers.

Moreover, the cybersecurity breach targeting Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in August 2024 further heightened concerns about the security vulnerabilities faced by major aviation hubs. The airport endured a cyberattack that demanded a hefty ransom, leading to disruptions during the busy Labor Day holiday travel period. Despite these setbacks, Alaska Airlines and the Port of Seattle have worked diligently to address the fallout from these incidents and enhance their cybersecurity measures to safeguard passengers and operations in the future.