Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday as the airline struggled to recover from a global software outage that affected operations across the globe. Our data shows that Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday alone, with more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights canceled between Friday and Saturday.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, the airline had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing about 20% of its planned operations for the day. In comparison, American Airlines reported only 38 canceled flights and 155 delays, which is about 5% of its scheduled flights.
The issues for Delta originated from a faulty software update conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. This defect impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to important systems and causing some to encounter the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a wide-ranging impact across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. The airline industry suffered particularly severe effects, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, with Delta being one of the hardest hit.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret for the disruption, stating that canceling flights is a last resort and that the company values the connection it provides to travelers. He noted that Delta relies on numerous applications that run on Microsoft Windows, including tools essential for crew management that were rendered ineffective by the system failure. To assist affected travelers, Delta is offering a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, as well as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, indicating that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He emphasized that the airline must ensure customers receive refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for food and hotel expenses. Buttigieg further stated that no traveler should be left stranded overnight at an airport or forced to wait excessively to reach customer service.