Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continues to grapple with the aftermath of a global software outage that caused significant disruptions over the weekend.
The Atlanta-based airline reported canceling 1,300 flights and delaying 1,600 on Sunday, following more than 3,500 flight cancellations for Delta and Delta Connection from Friday to Saturday, as reported by FlightAware. As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, amounting to approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays for about 5% of its flights.
The root of Delta’s issues lies in a failed software update by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday, which inadvertently affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This led to corporate users being unable to access their systems, with many experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
Various industries were impacted by this incident, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline sector, particularly Delta, faced the brunt of the disruption. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and an additional 5,171 canceled.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, 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 numerous applications, including a crew tracking tool that was rendered ineffective due to the software issues. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights for free and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation for affected travelers.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that his department received a significant number of complaints regarding Delta’s response to the outage. He emphasized that Delta must offer refunds, free rebooking, and proper reimbursements for expenses related to food and lodging. Buttigieg further remarked that “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”