Alaska Airlines' software glitch resolved, delays persist

Alaska Airlines' booking system was working again late Monday after a computer glitch forced Alaska and Horizon Air to cancel dozens of flights and delay flights for up to four hours, the airline said.

About 6,000 passengers either had their flights canceled or delayed, said Alaska spokeswoman Marianne Lindsey.

Shortly after 3 p.m. Eastern, passengers again were able to check in and board flights that were backed up after the carriers lost their connection nearly five hours earlier.

Lindsey warned that flight delays on Alaska and sister carrier Horizon would continue through the day and into the evening Monday.

"We're back up and running though things are still a bit creaky," she said. "Customers can expect long delays at the airport while we work to get our operation back to normal."

Problems began when the airline was unable to connect to its ticketing system after a cut cable shut down Sprint, its Internet provider.

By 3 p.m. Eastern, Alaska had canceled 20 flights and expected to cancel eight more, while Horizon canceled 50 flights. The two airlines ordinarily fly 760 flights a day.

The airline said it was waiving the fees it usually charges to rebook flights and passengers flying Monday or Tuesday could seek a refund. They have to do both by Oct. 22.