Hundreds of Flights Grounded by IT Outage at California Airports

A widespread IT outage is causing significant disruptions to air travel today, grounding hundreds of flights at airports across California.

The issue, which began this afternoon, is impacting operations for multiple airlines, including United, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines. Airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are experiencing substantial delays and cancellations. Passengers are reporting long lines and difficulty rebooking flights. According to initial reports, the outage stems from a problem with a third-party software system used for flight dispatch and weight and balance calculations.

“We are working with the vendor to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and restore normal operations,” stated a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration. The disruption is particularly concerning as it falls during a peak travel period, potentially stranding thousands of passengers ahead of the upcoming holiday season. For travelers seeking information on their rights during flight disruptions, resources are available from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The cascading effects of these cancellations are expected to be felt throughout the national air travel network. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates on their flight status and to explore alternative travel options. You can find more information about airport delays and cancellations on our Travel Disruptions page.

Officials are continuing to monitor the situation and expect further updates as the IT issue is investigated and resolved.