Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as it continues to recover from a significant global software outage that led to widespread disruptions over the weekend. The Atlanta-based airline had already canceled around 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday. In total, Delta has called off more than 3,500 flights across Delta and Delta Connection since Friday due to the outage.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta reported the cancellation of 626 flights and 144 delays, accounting for approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines experienced only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing about 5% of its planned flights.
The root cause of Delta’s issues was a failed software update implemented by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday, which adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This disruption left numerous corporate users without system access and dealt with various error screens, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage impacted a wide range of industries, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance, but the aviation sector bore the brunt of the crisis. On Friday, more than 46,000 flights were delayed and over 5,000 canceled, with Delta experiencing the greatest number of disruptions.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the difficulties caused to travelers, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He emphasized the airline’s commitment to connecting travelers and admitted the challenge posed by the disruption.
Bastian mentioned that many of Delta’s applications depend on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial crew tracking tool that became inoperable due to the software failure. To assist affected travelers, Delta has announced a travel waiver enabling free flight changes, as well as offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reported receiving “hundreds of complaints” about Delta’s response to the situation, insisting that the airline must ensure refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for expenses incurred by passengers who faced disruptions. He emphasized the importance of not leaving travelers stranded overnight at airports or causing extensive wait times for customer service.