Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday as it canceled over 600 flights and delayed numerous others, following a major global software outage that had already disrupted its operations over the weekend. The airline had previously canceled around 1,300 flights on Sunday and more than 3,500 flights across Delta and Delta Connection between Friday and Saturday.
The outage was attributed to a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This issue left numerous corporate users, including those in the airline industry, without access to their systems, leading to widespread delays and cancellations. On Friday, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, with 5,171 cancellations reported, impacting the airline sector more severely.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the disruptions, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort for the airline. He acknowledged the difficulty faced by travelers and apologized to those affected. Delta’s reliance on Microsoft Windows for many of its applications, including essential tools for crew tracking, contributed to the challenges in managing the operational crisis.
In a bid to assist impacted customers, Delta implemented a travel waiver that allows free flight changes and provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transport. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the situation. He underscored the importance of the airline offering refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for expenses incurred by passengers during the disruptions. He further stressed that no passenger should have to endure being stranded overnight at an airport or waiting excessively for customer service assistance.