Delta Air Lines canceled a significant number of flights on Monday as it continues to face recovery challenges following a global software malfunction that caused widespread delays and cancellations over the weekend.
The Atlanta-based airline reported canceling about 1,300 flights and delaying around 1,600 on Sunday alone, as per FlightAware data. This was on top of over 3,500 cancellations involving Delta and its regional partner, Delta Connection, from Friday to Saturday.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144 more, accounting for roughly 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, which is about 5% of its planned flights.
The disruptions originated from a faulty software update executed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. This update inadvertently affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to critical systems, and in some cases, encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of this incident reverberated across various sectors, affecting healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial entities. However, the airline industry was particularly hard hit, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, with Delta experiencing the most significant fallout.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, issued an apology on Sunday, emphasizing that canceling flights was a last resort and acknowledging the disruption faced by travelers. He noted the reliance on various Microsoft Windows applications, including a tool for crew tracking that was compromised during the downtime. To assist customers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transport.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on social media that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He stressed that the airline is obligated to issue refunds, offer free rebooking options, and ensure timely reimbursements for impacted customers’ food and hotel expenses.
He added, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”