Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, canceling over 600 flights as it continues to recover from a global software outage that disrupted travel worldwide for the past three days.
The airline, headquartered in Atlanta, had previously canceled around 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday due to the outage, which was linked to a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This update inadvertently affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems.
On Sunday alone, Delta reported canceling approximately 1,300 flights and delaying around 1,600. By Monday morning, the airline had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines saw a much smaller impact, with only 38 cancellations and 155 delays.
The software update malfunction also had far-reaching effects across various sectors, including healthcare, retail, and financial services, with airlines and airports being particularly hard-hit. More than 46,000 flights were delayed and over 5,000 canceled on Friday, with Delta experiencing the highest number of disruptions.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed his regret over the cancellations, stating that halting flights is never taken lightly. He emphasized the airline’s commitment to connecting the world and acknowledged the difficulties travelers face when their plans are interrupted.
To assist affected travelers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing for free flight changes and has also offered meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, noting that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He stressed the importance of providing timely refunds, rebooking options, and reimbursements for expenses incurred by affected customers, insisting that no one should be left stranded overnight at an airport or stuck on hold for extended periods seeking assistance.