Hawaiian Airlines has confirmed that a cybersecurity incident has disrupted some of its IT systems, though flight operations remain unaffected.
The airline described the situation as a “cybersecurity event,” a term often associated with ransomware attacks, where attackers typically encrypt critical systems and demand payment for restoration.
While the airline, now a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, did not disclose specific details about the breach, it stated that immediate steps were taken to protect its operations and customer safety. Despite the incident, Hawaiian Airlines assured that all flights are operating on schedule.
A curious detail emerged when Reuters news attempted to gather more information — responses came from a Gmail address rather than an official corporate domain, suggesting possible communication disruptions within the airline’s internal systems.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that its safety oversight office is in contact with the airline and is actively monitoring the situation. “There has been no impact on safety, and the airline continues to operate safely,” the FAA said.
Tech focus
Alaska Air is committed to advancing its technology suite across operations, sustainability, and customer experience, leveraging both internal innovation and external partnerships. Through its venture arm, Alaska Star Ventures, the company has backed startups like JetZero (blended-wing body aircraft for 50 percent less fuel burn), Loft Dynamics (VR-based Boeing 737 pilot training), and previously UP .Partners — all aimed at reducing emissions and reaching net-zero by 2040.
In partnership with UP.Labs, Alaska launched Odysee, an AI- and big data-driven platform that generates flight-schedule simulations in seconds, balancing revenue, reliability, and asset efficiency. Similarly, the airline has long used AI for operations: its Flyways AI platform, developed with Airspace Intelligence, has optimized routes since 2021 — now in its fourth year — consistently reducing fuel burn by 3–5 percent and emissions through more than a million gallons of saved fuel annually.
Alaska’s internal operations also benefit from connectivity and data: in partnership with Ditto, they’ve rolled out an edge‑analytics mobile app for flight crews, offering real-time safety data and passenger insights even offline, boosting inflight efficiency and service quality. They’ve modernized core IT, migrating workloads to Microsoft Azure, adopting GitHub (including Copilot), deploying Azure OpenAI for customer care, and enhancing cybersecurity with Microsoft Defender.
Passenger experience innovations include biometric boarding pilots in San Jose and smart self‑bag drop systems — streamlining check-in and boarding. Alaska also continues to modernize its legacy systems, expanding its partnership with Sabre to upgrade its passenger service system, pricing algorithms, and group booking tools.
Their investment in Loft Dynamics aims to bring full-motion VR simulators for Boeing 737 pilots into regular use, with approvals in progress. Reddit commentary confirms Alaska is among the first U.S. carriers adopting VR to enhance training.
Alaska Air Group’s revenue rose 9 percent to $3.14 billion in Q1-2025, driven by a 5 percent increase in unit revenue. The integration of Hawaiian Airlines began to show positive impact, with Hawaiian unit revenue increasing by 8.8 percent. However, Alaska Air withdrew its full-year 2025 guidance.
Rajani Baburajan
