Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continued to recover from a global software outage that affected travel worldwide over the weekend.
On Sunday, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed another 1,600, according to FlightAware data. Prior to that, the airline had already canceled over 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday. By Monday morning, the airline had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing around 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines managed to cancel just 38 flights and delay 155, approximately 5% of its planned flights.
The disruptions were linked to a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which took place late Thursday. This update caused vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access and encountering system errors, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The software failure impacted numerous industries, notably healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports bearing the brunt of the chaos. On Friday alone, there were over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations reported, with Delta experiencing the most significant impact.
Delta’s 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 who has been affected by these events.” He noted that a considerable number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, which contributed to the operational issues, including a system for tracking crew that was unable to function due to the outage.
In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without penalty, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg revealed on social media that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” concerning the way Delta managed the operational fallout. He stressed that Delta must ensure refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for affected customers, emphasizing that no passenger should have to endure overnight waits at airports or long holds while trying to reach customer service.