Delta Air Lines experienced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continued to recover from a global software failure that had grounded and delayed flights worldwide for three days.
On Sunday, Delta canceled around 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, as reported by FlightAware. In total, more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights were canceled between Friday and Saturday.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing roughly 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines had canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, making up about 5% of its planned flights.
The turmoil stemmed from a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that took place late Thursday night. The update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to critical systems and, in some cases, facing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The fallout impacted multiple sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with the airline industry, particularly Delta, suffering the most. According to FlightAware, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 were canceled on Friday alone, with Delta being the most affected.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the disruptions, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone affected by these events.” He emphasized Delta’s commitment to connecting people and the challenges faced when travel plans are disrupted.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on a significant number of applications that use Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking that were rendered inoperable due to the system failure. The airline has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no charge and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
On Sunday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced via social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He insisted that Delta must offer refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursement for food and lodging for affected passengers. “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg added.