Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights as it struggles to recover from a global software outage that grounded and delayed flights for three days. On Sunday alone, the Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware. This followed the cancellation of more than 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 canceled flights and 155 delays, which is about 5% of its planned operations.
The disruptions stemmed from a faulty software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This issue left many corporate users without access to their systems and caused widespread problems, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.” The impact was felt across various sectors, including healthcare, retail, and finance, but airlines experienced significant challenges, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,000 canceled on Friday alone.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology to those affected by the cancellations and delays, stating that canceling flights is a last resort. He noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many of its applications, including crucial tools for tracking crews.
In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights for free and has also provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that his department has received many complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation and emphasized the need for the airline to offer refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for affected customers. He stressed that no one should have to spend the night stranded at an airport or be stuck on hold for extended periods trying to reach customer service.