Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions this week, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline struggled to recover from a global software outage that impacted operations worldwide. On Sunday alone, Delta canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed around 1,600, according to FlightAware. This followed an earlier cancellation of over 3,500 flights from Friday to Saturday.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for about 20% of its planned operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, which is about 5% of its scheduled flights.
The root of Delta’s troubles was traced back to a failed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday. This update caused problems with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users unable to access essential systems and, in several cases, experiencing the frustrating “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of this incident extended across various industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines experiencing significant disruptions. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and more than 5,000 were canceled, with Delta suffering the most significant consequences.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that these decisions are not made lightly and apologizing to customers affected by the disruptions. He highlighted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many of its applications, including a critical crew tracking tool that was impacted by the system failures. To assist affected passengers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver enabling free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented on social media regarding the numerous complaints his department received about Delta’s management of the situation. He emphasized that Delta must ensure refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for affected customers. He asserted that no traveler should have to endure being stranded overnight at airports or waiting for extensive periods to reach customer service.