Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline struggled to recover from a global software outage that had grounded and delayed flights for three consecutive days.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, as reported by FlightAware. Earlier, between Friday and Saturday, the airline had already canceled more than 3,500 flights, including those operated by Delta Connection.
By around 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, representing about 5% of its planned operations.
The crisis resulted from a problematic software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This update inadvertently affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to their systems and encountering issues like the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline industry, particularly Delta, faced the brunt of the disruptions. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with 5,171 cancellations reported by FlightAware.
Delta’s 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 also noted that a significant number of Delta’s applications reliant on Microsoft Windows were affected, including a crew tracking tool that failed to process necessary changes due to the outage. In response to the disruptions, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without additional fees, as well as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on social media that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He emphasized that Delta must offer refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for food and hotel expenses to those impacted. “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg asserted.