Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continues to deal with the fallout from a global software outage that grounded and delayed flights for three consecutive days.
According to FlightAware, Delta canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed around 1,600 on Sunday alone. Over the prior two days, the airline had already canceled more than 3,500 flights across its Delta and Delta Connection services.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta reported 626 canceled flights and 144 delays, representing nearly 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines had canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, which is about 5% of its planned operations.
The root of Delta’s challenges arose from a problematic software update conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late on Thursday. A flaw in this update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating system, disrupting access for corporate users and causing issues like the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread repercussions across various sectors, impacting healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions. Airlines were particularly hard hit, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and over 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta suffering the most significant impact.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret about the situation, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort. “I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events,” he said. Bastian highlighted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, particularly a tool for crew tracking that was unable to operate due to the system failure. To assist affected travelers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also addressed the situation on social media, noting that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” related to Delta’s response to the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta is obligated to provide refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for food and accommodation for affected passengers. “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg asserted.