Delta Air Lines experienced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continues to recover from a global software failure that affected operations for several days.
The Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights on Sunday and delayed 1,600 more, according to FlightAware. Over the weekend, Delta had already scrapped more than 3,500 flights across its Delta and Delta Connection services between Friday and Saturday.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, amounting to about 20% of its scheduled operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported just 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing around 5% of its flights.
The turmoil for Delta originated from a problematic software update by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday. A malfunction in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, disrupting access for corporate users and causing technical failures.
The issue broadly impacted various sectors, including healthcare, delivery, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports faced the most significant challenges. On Friday, more than 46,000 flights experienced delays, and 5,171 were canceled, with Delta bearing the brunt of the fallout.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret for the disruptions in a statement on Sunday. He acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers and emphasized the company’s commitment to connection. Bastian explained that many of Delta’s key applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a tool essential for crew tracking that was disrupted by the system issues. To assist affected travelers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver that allows free flight changes, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reported receiving numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He stated that the airline is obligated to offer refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for meals and accommodations to those impacted.
Buttigieg also stressed the importance of ensuring passengers are not left stranded at airports overnight or made to wait excessively for customer service assistance.