Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as it continues to face challenges recovering from a global software outage that grounded and delayed flights for three days. The Atlanta-based airline had already canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday, following more than 3,500 cancellations over Friday and Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing about 20% of its operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, which is roughly 5% of its planned flights.
The problems for Delta arose from a flawed software update conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. The defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, disrupting access for corporate users and causing issues such as the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a widespread impact across many sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. However, airlines, particularly Delta, experienced the worst of it; on Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 canceled.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian remarked that cancelling flights is always a last-resort decision, and he expressed his apologies to those affected by the disruption. He emphasized that Delta, which relies on numerous Microsoft Windows applications for operations, including a crucial crew tracking tool, was severely impacted.
To assist customers, Delta has put in place a travel waiver allowing passengers to change their flights without a fee, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruption. He stressed that Delta must ensure refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for food and lodging for customers affected by the chaos, stating that no one should be left stranded at an airport overnight or have to endure long waits to contact customer service.