Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continues to recover from a significant global software outage that caused widespread disruptions over the weekend. The Atlanta-based airline reported the cancellation of 1,300 flights and 1,600 delays on Sunday alone, while it had already canceled over 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday.
As of around 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, impacting approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines managed to cancel only 38 flights and delayed 155, representing about 5% of its planned flights.
The issues for Delta originated from a faulty software update executed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday night. The defect disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users unable to access their systems and in some cases, facing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had far-reaching effects across various sectors, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and financial institutions, but airlines and airports experienced some of the most severe impacts. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 were canceled, with Delta experiencing the most significant challenges.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort for the airline. “I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events,” he stated. In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver permitting customers to change their flights at no extra cost and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg noted on social media that his department received numerous complaints about Delta’s handling of the disruptions, urging the airline to ensure refunds, complimentary rebooking, and timely reimbursements for food and lodging 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,” he added.