Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continues to recover from a global software outage that grounding and delayed flights worldwide over the weekend.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware. The airline had previously canceled more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for approximately 20% of its planned operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 canceled flights and 155 delays, roughly 5% of its planned operations.
The disruptions originated from a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday, which adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This left many corporate users without access, causing significant problems, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
Various industries were impacted, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and financial institutions, but airlines and airports were particularly affected. On Friday, over 46,000 flights faced delays, with an additional 5,171 cancellations, making Delta one of the hardest hit.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement, emphasizing that canceling flights is always the last resort. He apologized to all affected travelers, affirming that Delta aims to connect the world and acknowledges the difficulties travelers face when plans are disrupted.
Bastian indicated that Delta relies on numerous applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that could not adapt to the system shutdown. As a gesture of goodwill, Delta has issued a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights at no cost and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted on social media that the Department of Transportation received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He called on Delta to ensure refunds, facilitate free rebooking, and provide timely reimbursements for affected customers’ food and lodging expenses.
Buttigieg added, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”