Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, cancelling hundreds of flights as the airline continued to recover from a global software outage that impacted operations over the weekend.
On Sunday alone, Delta cancelled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed about 1,600 more, according to FlightAware. The airline had already cancelled over 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday. By early Monday morning, Delta had cancelled 626 flights and delayed 144, marking about 20% of its scheduled flights for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing around 5% of its operations.
The trouble originated from a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that occurred late Thursday night. This issue affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and experiencing severe errors, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident disrupted nearly every major industry, notably healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports were particularly hard-hit, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, with Delta suffering the most.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the situation, stating that cancelling flights is a last resort. He apologized to all affected customers, emphasizing the importance of providing reliable travel connections. Bastian noted that many of Delta’s systems rely on Microsoft Windows, including critical tools for tracking crew assignments that failed during the outage.
To assist affected passengers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
In response to the chaos, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg mentioned on social media that his department had received numerous complaints related to Delta’s handling of the disruptions. He emphasized that the airline must ensure refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for affected customers, adding that no one should have to spend the night stranded at an airport or endure long waits to reach customer service.