Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday as it worked to recover from a global software outage that occurred several days earlier, leading to the cancellation of numerous flights.
On Sunday, the Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed an additional 1,600, following the cancellation of over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday, according to FlightAware. By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines saw only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, around 5% of its planned flights.
The disruptions have been attributed to a faulty software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which was implemented late Thursday night. The update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, impacting corporate users and resulting in system access problems and the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.” Various major industries were affected, including healthcare, delivery, retail, and finance, with airlines experiencing some of the worst impacts. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and more than 5,000 were canceled.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed his regret over the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He apologized to passengers affected by the disruptions, emphasizing Delta’s role in connecting the world. The airline has since implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without fees and has offered meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg noted on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He stated that Delta needs to ensure refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for affected customers, adding that no traveler should be left stranded at an airport overnight or subjected to lengthy wait times for customer service.