Delta Air Lines faced significant disruption on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continued to recover from a global software outage that had grounded and delayed flights for three days.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled about 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, with further cancellations exceeding 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights from Friday to Saturday, according to FlightAware. By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed another 144, representing nearly 20% of its planned operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, accounting for about 5% of its operations.
The troubles for Delta originated from a failed software update implemented by CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm, which occurred late Thursday. This defective update affected Microsoft’s Windows systems, rendering many corporate users unable to access their operations and some even encountering the “Blue Screen of Death.”
Numerous industries were impacted, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports experiencing some of the most severe disruptions. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with more than 5,171 cancellations reported.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the situation, stating that canceling flights is a last resort and deeply apologizing to all affected travelers. He highlighted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many applications, including a crucial crew tracking tool that was disrupted.
To assist customers, Delta is offering a travel waiver that allows free changes to flights, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transport services.
Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg mentioned via social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the situation, insisting that the airline must ensure refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursement for meals and hotels for those impacted. He emphasized that no traveler should be left stranded overnight or stuck on hold for extended periods trying to reach customer service.