Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continues to recover from a global software outage that led to grounding and delaying flights worldwide for three consecutive days.
The Atlanta-based carrier canceled 1,300 flights on Sunday and experienced an additional 1,600 delays, according to FlightAware. This followed more than 3,500 cancellations of Delta and Delta Connection flights over the previous Friday and Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for approximately 20% of its scheduled operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported just 38 canceled flights and 155 delays, about 5% of its planned operations.
The issues arose from a malfunctioning software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred on Thursday night. A flaw in the update negatively impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing corporate users to lose access to critical systems and, in some instances, experience the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident affected nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports were particularly hard hit: on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and an additional 5,171 were canceled, with Delta being the most affected.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian explained that Delta utilizes a “significant number of applications” that rely on Microsoft Windows, including tools essential for crew tracking that could not process changes due to the system shutdown. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg remarked on social media late Sunday that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the travel disruptions. He emphasized the importance of Delta ensuring refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for food and hotel accommodations to those impacted.
“No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg stated.