Delta Air Lines has been forced to cancel hundreds of flights on Monday as it continues to face challenges following a global software outage that caused widespread disruptions over the weekend.
On Sunday alone, the Atlanta-based airline canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware data. In total, Delta had canceled more than 3,500 of its flights between Friday and Saturday. By Monday morning, Delta reported 626 cancellations and 144 delays, accounting for about 20% of its planned operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines saw only 38 cancellations and delayed 155 flights, which is roughly 5% of its scheduled flights.
The root of Delta’s troubles lies in a failed software update initiated by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday night. This glitch affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate clients unable to access their systems and experiencing major outages, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The fallout from the IT incident has impacted nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines were particularly hard hit. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed and another 5,171 were canceled, with Delta bearing the brunt of the disruptions.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort. He issued an apology to all affected travelers and stated that Delta’s core mission is to connect people globally. Bastian noted that the disruption was exacerbated by Delta’s reliance on Microsoft Windows for various operations, including a critical crew tracking tool that failed to adapt to the system outages. As a response, Delta is offering customers travel waivers allowing them to change their flights without fees, as well as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg took to social media on Sunday to address concerns about Delta’s management of the disruptions. He indicated that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding the situation and insisted that Delta must refund affected customers, facilitate free rebooking, and provide timely compensation for food and lodging expenses. Buttigieg stated that no one should have to endure overnight delays at the airport or spend hours trying to reach customer service.