Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights as it continues to deal with the aftermath of a global software outage that occurred earlier last week. The Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday alone, following the cancellation of more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday.
As of Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines canceled just 38 flights and delayed 155, which is about 5% of its operations.
The disruptions originated from a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This issue left corporate users unable to access their systems, with many experiencing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The effects were felt across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery, retail, and finance, but airlines faced the brunt of the turmoil. On one day alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, with Delta being the most affected.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations. He stated, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone who has been impacted by these events.” He noted that a substantial number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that struggled to manage changes due to the system failure.
In response, Delta is offering a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights without charge, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg mentioned on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions, emphasizing that the airline should provide refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for affected customers. He stated, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”