Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continues to recover from a global software outage that caused widespread groundings and delays over the weekend.
The Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights on Sunday and experienced delays for 1,600 more, as reported by FlightAware. This followed the cancellation of more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights from Friday to Saturday due to the same issues.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, marking approximately 20% of its scheduled operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 canceled flights and 155 delays, representing about 5% of its planned services.
The root of Delta’s turmoil lies in a flawed software update executed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday, which adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This malfunction left many corporate users unable to access their systems and, in some cases, faced the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident disrupted a multitude of sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with the airline industry experiencing severe impacts. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 more were canceled, according to FlightAware data, with Delta suffering the worst of the aftermath.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He emphasized that Delta understands the importance of travel connections and the distress caused by interruptions.
The airline noted that a substantial number of its applications depend on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial crew tracking tool that could not adapt to the changes resulting from the system failures. To assist customers affected by the disruptions, Delta has introduced a travel waiver, allowing free flight changes, offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
In response to the situation, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. Buttigieg emphasized the need for Delta to provide refunds, facilitate free rebooking, and ensure prompt reimbursements for food and lodging for impacted passengers, insisting that no traveler should be left stranded or forced to wait endlessly for customer support.