Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continues to grapple with the aftermath of a global software outage that began three days prior.
More than 1,300 flights were canceled on Sunday, alongside 1,600 delays, as reported by FlightAware. Earlier, Delta had already canceled over 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday. By around 8 a.m. ET on Monday, the airline had called off 626 flights and delayed 144, marking approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines saw much fewer cancellations, with just 38 flights canceled and 155 delayed, accounting for about 5% of its planned operations.
The root of Delta’s troubles was traced back to a faulty software update performed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. This update had flaws that impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users, including airlines, unable to access essential systems. Many experienced the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
Various industries were affected by this incident, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance. However, airlines and airports were particularly hard-hit. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with more than 5,171 cancellations, according to FlightAware, and Delta was the most affected airline.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the cancellations, 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.” He highlighted that Delta relies heavily on several applications using Microsoft Windows, including a critical tool for crew tracking that was unable to function due to the system failure. Delta is offering travel waivers, enabling customers to change flights without charge, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted on social media that his department received numerous complaints about Delta’s management of the situation, urging the airline to offer refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for accommodations and meals to those affected. “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg emphasized.