Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights as it continues to deal with the aftermath of a global software outage that significantly disrupted operations over the weekend. On Sunday, the airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 more, as reported by FlightAware. The previous Friday and Saturday saw Delta and its regional partners cancel over 3,500 flights combined.
As of Monday morning, Delta reported the cancellation of 626 flights and delays affecting 144, representing about 20% of its scheduled operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, making up around 5% of its operations.
The disruption originated from a problematic software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems late Thursday. This flaw left many corporate users unable to access their systems, resulting in widespread delays across various industries, including healthcare, retail, and finance. Airlines experienced particularly severe effects, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations on the following Friday alone, with Delta being the most affected carrier.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the flight cancellations, emphasizing that such decisions are not made lightly. He acknowledged the challenges faced by customers due to the situation and outlined Delta’s commitment to customer care, including a travel waiver allowing passengers to change their flights without charge, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg took to social media to voice concerns over Delta’s response to the flight disruptions, noting that his department had received numerous complaints. He stressed the importance of customer service, stating that Delta needs to ensure refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for affected passengers. Buttigieg stated, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”