Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights as it continues to recover from a global software outage that disrupted air travel over the weekend. The airline, based in Atlanta, canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday, following the cancellation of more than 3,500 flights for Delta and Delta Connection on Friday and Saturday.
As of Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, representing about 5% of its planned flights.
The disruptions were caused by a faulty software update from the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which affected Microsoft Windows operating systems. This issue left many corporate users without system access and led to significant delays across various industries, particularly in airlines and airports. On Friday, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, and more than 5,171 were canceled, with Delta being the most impacted.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort. He apologized to all those affected, stating that Delta’s primary role is to connect people and that they recognize the inconvenience of travel disruptions.
Bastian noted that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that was hindered by the system failures. In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver policy, allowing passengers to change their flights without charge, and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg mentioned on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He asserted that Delta is obligated to offer refunds, complimentary rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for expenses related to food and hotel stays incurred by passengers.
Buttigieg emphasized that no traveler should have to spend the night stranded at an airport or face extensive wait times to speak with customer service.