Delta Air Lines faced significant disruption on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continued to recover from a global software outage that occurred three days prior.
On Sunday alone, the Atlanta-based airline canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 more, according to FlightAware. Prior to that, Delta had already canceled over 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for around 20% of its planned operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported just 38 flight cancellations and 155 delays, making up about 5% of its operations.
The disruptions were attributed to a flawed software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, preventing corporate users from accessing critical systems and leading to widespread confusion, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage impacted nearly all major industries, with airlines and airports experiencing the most severe effects. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, with Delta bearing the brunt of these disruptions.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret for the challenges faced by travelers, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone impacted by these events.” Bastian noted that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including tools essential for crew tracking, which were unable to function properly due to the system outage.
In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights at no charge, alongside providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged on social media that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the situation. He emphasized the need for Delta to offer refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursement for meals and hotel stays to those affected. “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to speak with a customer service agent,” Buttigieg stated.