Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continues to recover from a global software failure that grounded flights over the weekend.
On Sunday, Delta canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed around 1,600, according to FlightAware data. The airline had already scrapped over 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for nearly 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing about 5% of its operations.
The complications originated from a faulty software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which was implemented late Thursday. This update caused problems for Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access and, in some cases, confronting the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The fallout from this incident rippled across various sectors, affecting healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions, but the airline industry suffered the most. On Friday, the incident led to over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations. Delta was especially hard hit.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret for the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for various applications, including a tool for tracking flight crews that struggled to manage changes caused by the system outage. To assist affected travelers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free changes to flights, in addition to offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented via social media, revealing that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the travel disruptions. He emphasized that Delta is obligated to provide refunds, allow free rebooking, and ensure timely reimbursements for affected passengers’ food and lodging.
“No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg stated.