Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it struggled to recover from a global software outage that impacted operations for three consecutive days.
According to FlightAware, the Atlanta-based airline had already canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday. The previous two days saw over 3,500 cancellations across Delta and Delta Connection flights due to the software problems.
By around 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing about 20% of its planned flights for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, amounting to approximately 5% of its scheduled operations.
The root of Delta’s issues was traced back to a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. A defect in the update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and encountering what is commonly referred to as the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread ramifications across various industries, including healthcare providers, delivery services, retail, and finance, with the airline sector particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed, and an additional 5,171 were canceled, with Delta suffering the most.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone affected by these events.” Bastian acknowledged the airline’s reliance on Microsoft Windows for many applications, including tools essential for crew tracking that were disrupted.
In response to the situation, Delta offered a travel waiver that allows customers to change their flights at no extra cost, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Meanwhile, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg commented on social media that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta must ensure refunds, facilitate free rebooking, and provide timely reimbursements for expenses incurred by affected customers. Buttigieg added, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or left on hold for hours waiting to speak to a customer service agent.”