Alaska Airlines restores operations after tech outage grounds flights

Core Viewpoint - Alaska Airlines experienced a technology outage that grounded flights and led to the cancellation of over 229 flights, resulting in a nearly 5% drop in its share price during early trading [1][2]. Group 1: Operational Impact - The airline has restored operations but anticipates further flight disruptions [1]. - A temporary ground stop was requested, affecting both Alaska Airlines and its subsidiary Horizon Air, which was lifted at 11:30 p.m. local time [2]. - The airline grounded all flights for about three hours in July due to a similar IT outage, which negatively impacted its third-quarter profit per share by approximately 10 cents [4]. Group 2: Financial Outlook - Alaska Air Group has not yet estimated the financial impact of the recent disruption on its fourth-quarter results [2]. - The airline forecasted fourth-quarter profits to be well below analysts' expectations due to higher fuel costs and operational challenges [3]. - The earnings call originally scheduled for October 24 has been postponed following the outage [4]. Group 3: Customer Communication - The airline addressed customer complaints on social media regarding booking glitches and app issues, stating that their IT team is working to resolve the system errors [3].