Delta Air Lines has faced significant operational challenges, canceling hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline attempts to recover from a global software outage that began three days prior, causing widespread delays and cancellations worldwide.
On Sunday alone, the Atlanta-based airline canceled around 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, as reported by FlightAware. This followed the cancellation of more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, equating to approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing about 5% of its flights.
The disruption was triggered by a flawed software update initiated by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday, which inadvertently affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This issue left numerous corporate users, including airlines, without access to critical systems and dealing with system crashes.
The incident impacted nearly all major sectors, with airlines and airports facing the most severe repercussions. On Friday, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, while nearly 5,200 were canceled, with Delta being the most affected.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over 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 noted that a significant portion of Delta’s applications relies on Microsoft Windows, complicating their recovery efforts. Delta has announced a travel waiver for affected customers, allowing them to change flights for free, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg indicated on social media that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta must ensure refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursements for expenses related to food and lodging for affected travelers, asserting that no one should be left stranded at an airport or stuck on hold for lengthy periods.