Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continued to recover from a global software outage that severely impacted operations over the weekend.
On Sunday alone, the Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, with over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights being canceled between Friday and Saturday, according to FlightAware data. By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and faced delays for 144, translating to about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, roughly 5% of its planned flights.
The crisis originated from a flawed software update initiated by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which took place late Thursday night. This defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, preventing corporate users from accessing essential systems. The impact was widespread, hitting many industries, including healthcare, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports were particularly hard hit. On Friday, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, and more than 5,171 were canceled, with Delta suffering the most.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He apologized to all passengers affected, emphasizing Delta’s commitment to connecting people and the challenges posed by travel disruptions. Bastian noted that Delta relies on a significant number of Microsoft Windows applications, including a crucial crew tracking tool that was impaired by the outage. As a remedial measure, Delta implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no cost, and offered meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg revealed on social media that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta should provide refunds, offer free rebooking options, and ensure timely reimbursements for affected customers’ food and lodging. Buttigieg further insisted that no traveler should face overnight delays at an airport or experience prolonged wait times to reach customer service.