Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continues to recover from a substantial software outage that affected global operations over the weekend.
On Sunday alone, Delta cancelled 1,300 flights and had 1,600 delays, according to FlightAware. The airline had already experienced over 3,500 cancellations between Friday and Saturday due to the outage. By Monday morning, Delta had cancelled 626 flights and delayed 144, amounting to approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays.
The root of Delta’s troubles was a failed software update performed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday, which caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This defect left many corporate users unable to access their systems and led to errors like the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread consequences, impacting a range of industries from healthcare to retail. Airlines, particularly Delta, were hit especially hard, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,171 cancelled across the industry on Friday alone.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort. To support affected customers, Delta is offering a travel waiver that allows for free changes to flights, alongside meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, noting that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He emphasized the necessity for Delta to provide refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for customers’ food and hotel expenses.
Buttigieg concluded by asserting that no one should have to endure an overnight stay at an airport or spend excessive time on hold to reach customer service.