Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continued to recover from a global software outage that affected travel for several days.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, following more than 3,500 cancellations of Delta and Delta Connection flights from Friday to Saturday, as reported by FlightAware. By Monday morning, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing about 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines managed to cancel only 38 flights and delay 155, equating to around 5% of its operations.
The disruptions were attributed to a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, executed late Thursday. The update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users, including Delta, unable to access their systems and resulting in widespread operational difficulties.
The travel industry was particularly hard-hit, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta was notably affected by these problems.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, emphasizing the company’s commitment to passenger service. He stated, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” Bastian assured that Delta recognizes the difficulties faced by travelers and has enacted a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights at no additional cost, alongside offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg revealed on social media that the department had received numerous complaints about Delta’s handling of the situation. He urged the airline to ensure that affected customers receive refunds, options for free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for expenses such as food and hotel stays. Buttigieg emphasized that travelers should not have to spend the night stranded at airports or endure long waits on hold for customer service.