Alaska Airlines Announces Game-Changing Update—What It Means for Travelers in 2025

ALASKA AIRLINES HALTS MAINLINE FLIGHTS NATIONWIDE Alaska Airlines passengers woke up Monday to an unexpected nationwide ground stop that has temporarily parked the carrier’s entire mainline fleet, disrupting hundreds of departures and arrivals across the United States. The carrier requested the halt late Sunday evening, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) quickly issued an advisory affecting every destination Alaska serves. WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR • Scope: More than 200 Boeing jets operating under the Alaska Airlines brand are grounded, representing virtually all of the airline’s scheduled flights for today. • Reason: Alaska Airlines and the FAA have not yet explained the underlying issue. Industry analysts say a systemwide software outage or a fleet‐wide maintenance inspection are the most likely causes when an airline voluntarily asks regulators for a ground stop. • Subsidiaries Unaffected: Horizon Air and SkyWest flights marketed as Alaska Airlines but operated on regional aircraft continue to fly, though many are delayed because they feed passengers into the mainline network. • Stock Impact: Shares of Alaska Air Group (ALK) fell nearly 4 % in pre-market trading as investors assessed the operational and reputational fallout. POTENTIAL TRIGGERS Alaska Airlines has faced heightened scrutiny since a door plug blew out on a 737-9 MAX in early 2024; those jets later returned to service after inspections and software fixes. Last week, three passengers quietly settled a $1 billion lawsuit tied to that incident. Safety advocates note that airlines sometimes ground fleets to perform precautionary checks when new data emerges on previous problems. IMPACT ON TRAVELERS Flight-tracking dashboards show more than 650 Alaska Airlines flights canceled or delayed before 6 a.m. Pacific Time. Seattle-Tacoma, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Anchorage are seeing the heaviest congestion as stranded passengers rebook on other carriers or drive to nearby airports. • Rebooking: Alaska is waiving change fees and fare differences through July 28 for travelers scheduled to fly on or before July 23. • Refunds: Customers whose flights are canceled may request a full refund to their original form of payment. • Mileage Plan: Award seats rebooked on partner airlines will earn full redeemable and elite-qualifying miles. WHAT ALASKA AIRLINES IS SAYING The airline posted a brief statement on its social channels: “We have placed a ground stop on our mainline operation out of an abundance of caution and are working urgently to get our guests on their way.” No timeline for lifting the stop was provided. WHAT COMES NEXT 1. FAA Inspection Results: The agency’s initial findings will indicate whether the issue is software- or hardware-related and whether inspections can be completed quickly. 2. Cascading Cancellations: Even if the ground stop lifts within hours, crew-scheduling constraints mean disruptions could extend through mid-week. 3. Financial Toll: With Q2 earnings scheduled for July 24, analysts expect executives to provide an early estimate of operational losses if the grounding lasts more than 24 hours. TIPS FOR AFFECTED PASSENGERS • Check Flight Status: Use the Alaska Airlines mobile app or text your flight number to 82008 for real-time updates. • Consider Alternatives: Delta, United and American still have limited same-day seats out of West Coast hubs; use airline alliances or credit-card travel portals to compare options. • Save Receipts: Under Alaska’s Contract of Carriage, reasonable hotel, meal and ground transportation expenses are reimbursable when an airline-controlled irregularity causes an overnight delay. BOTTOM LINE The Alaska Airlines ground stop is the most significant operational interruption for a U.S. carrier so far in 2025. While officials race to diagnose the problem, travelers should brace for multiple days of schedule volatility. Bookmark this page: we will update as soon as the FAA or Alaska Airlines releases new details on the cause, the fix and the expected resumption of normal service.