Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, cancelling hundreds of flights as the airline struggled to recover from a widespread software outage that poorly affected its services over the weekend. The Atlanta-based carrier canceled approximately 1,300 flights on Sunday and delayed 1,600 others, according to data from FlightAware. Additionally, Delta and its regional partner Delta Connection had previously cancelled more than 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for about 20% of its planned operations for the day. In comparison, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, roughly 5% of its scheduled flights.
The disruption was linked to a faulty software update carried out by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday night. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, disrupting corporate users’ access to their systems and, in some cases, causing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, with healthcare providers, delivery firms, retailers, and financial institutions all feeling the effects. Airlines and airports, however, were among the most severely affected, experiencing extensive delays and cancellations. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed with an additional 5,171 cancellations.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He apologized to those affected, highlighting Delta’s commitment to connecting travelers globally and acknowledging the difficulties caused by the disruptions.
Bastian explained that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many of its applications, including tools for tracking crew schedules, which were unable to adapt to the changes caused by the system’s shutdown. To mitigate the impact on passengers, Delta announced a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented on the situation, noting that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta must offer refunds, facilitate free rebooking, and ensure timely reimbursements for food and hotel expenses incurred by affected passengers. Buttigieg stressed that no passenger should be left stranded overnight at an airport or left waiting for hours to reach customer service.