Delta Air Lines has faced significant disruptions, canceling hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline attempts to recover from a global software outage that impacted operations worldwide. On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed another 1,600, according to FlightAware. The airline had canceled over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights over the preceding Friday and Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines managed to cancel just 38 flights and delayed 155, representing about 5% of its operations.
The disruptions were traced back to a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which took place late Thursday night. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving numerous corporate users without system access and some experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a widespread impact, affecting various sectors including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance. The airline industry was particularly hit hard; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, and 5,171 flights were canceled, with Delta being the most affected airline.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, 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 explained that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many applications, including tools for crew tracking, which were unable to function due to the outage.
In response to the disruptions, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on social media that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He emphasized that Delta should ensure refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursements for food and hotel accommodations for those affected. Buttigieg noted, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”