Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday, facing challenges as it sought to recover from a significant global software outage that had grounded and delayed trips worldwide for three days.
The Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 flights on Sunday, according to FlightAware data. The airline had previously canceled over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights from Friday to Saturday.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which constitutes about 20% of its planned operations. In comparison, American Airlines canceled just 38 flights and delayed 155, equating to approximately 5% of its scheduled flights.
The complications for Delta arose from a flawed software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday night. A defect within this update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leading to corporate users being cut off from their systems and some experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident adversely impacted nearly every significant industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. However, airlines experienced the most severe repercussions: On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and an additional 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware. Delta reported the most extensive impact.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement on Sunday, 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. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on numerous Microsoft Windows applications, including a crew tracking tool crucial for managing flight changes due to the system outages. In response to the disruptions, Delta has issued a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no extra cost and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted on social media late Sunday that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta must offer refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for meals and hotel accommodations to affected passengers, stating, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”