Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it worked to recover from a global software outage that occurred three days prior, affecting travel worldwide.
The airline canceled approximately 1,300 flights on Sunday and delayed 1,600 more, as reported by FlightAware. This followed over 3,500 cancellations of Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday.
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 reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, roughly 5% of its planned flights.
The disruptions were a result of a faulty software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday night. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and leading to the infamous “Blue Screen of Death” for some.
Various industries were impacted, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced the most severe effects. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,171 were canceled, with Delta being the hardest hit.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret regarding the cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone who has been impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian noted that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking system that struggled to manage changes due to the software issue. The airline has implemented a travel waiver allowing affected customers to change their flights without charge, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reported receiving “hundreds of complaints” about Delta’s management of the situation, asserting that the airline is required to provide refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for food and lodging for impacted passengers. He emphasized that no customer should have to spend the night at an airport or endure lengthy waits to reach customer service.