Delta Air Lines faced significant disruption on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it struggled to recover from a global software outage that occurred three days earlier, grounding flights worldwide.
On Sunday alone, the Atlanta-based airline canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed around 1,600, according to FlightAware data. This followed the cancellation of over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for about 20% of its planned operations. In comparison, American Airlines reported only 38 canceled flights and 155 delays, representing about 5% of its schedule.
The turmoil for Delta was triggered by a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday, which negatively affected Microsoft Windows operating systems. This left corporate users, including Delta, unable to access their systems, leading to significant operational challenges.
The incident affected numerous sectors, notably causing extensive delays in air travel. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed alongside more than 5,000 cancellations, with Delta being one of the most impacted airlines.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, highlighting the difficulty and stress that travel disruptions cause. He emphasized that canceling flights is a last resort for the airline and apologized to all customers affected. Bastian noted the reliance on Microsoft Windows applications for various operations, including crew tracking.
To mitigate the impact on travelers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing passengers to change flights without penalty and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg commented on the situation, revealing that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He urged the airline to ensure timely refunds, free rebooking options, and compensation for food and lodging to affected passengers, stressing that no one should be left stranded at airports or waiting excessively for customer service.