Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline faces ongoing recovery efforts following a global software outage that disrupted travel for three days.
The disruptions began over the weekend when Delta canceled 1,300 flights on Sunday and delayed 1,600, according to data from FlightAware. The airline had previously scrapped more than 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday. As of 8 a.m. ET Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing around 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 canceled flights and 155 delays, about 5% of its planned flights.
The root of Delta’s challenges was a problematic software update executed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday, which affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems and hindered corporate users’ access. This issue led to widespread disruptions across various industries, with airlines and airports being particularly hard hit; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 canceled.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian apologized to affected passengers, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He emphasized the importance of the airline’s role in connecting people and acknowledged the hardships that disruptions cause.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on a number of Microsoft Windows-based applications, including tools for tracking crew members, which could not process changes due to the software issues. To assist those impacted, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without fees and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed concerns on social media, stating that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He insisted that the airline must offer refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for expenses incurred by affected customers, stressing that travelers should not be left stranded at airports or waiting extended periods for customer service assistance.