Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions this week, canceling hundreds of flights as it continued to recover from a global software outage that impacted operations across various industries.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware. The airline had previously canceled over 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday due to the incident. By Monday morning, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed another 144, accounting for approximately 20% of its scheduled flights. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, affecting about 5% of its plans.
The root cause of the disruptions was a flawed software update conducted by CrowdStrike late Thursday, which adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This led to a situation where corporate users were left without system access and faced issues such as the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage impacted nearly every major industry, particularly the airline sector. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, with an additional 5,171 cancellations, with Delta being the most affected airline.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating that canceling flights is a serious decision for the company. He apologized to those affected and emphasized Delta’s commitment to reconnecting travelers worldwide. To assist customers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, as well as offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation. He urged the airline to provide necessary refunds, facilitate free rebookings, and ensure prompt reimbursements for affected customers’ meals and hotel stays. “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg stated.