Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continued to recover from a global software failure that grounded and delayed flights worldwide just days earlier.
The Atlanta-based airline had canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday, according to FlightAware. Over the course of Friday and Saturday, Delta had already canceled more than 3,500 flights, including those of its regional affiliate, Delta Connection.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which amounts to roughly 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, about 5% of its planned flights.
The source of Delta’s troubles was attributed to a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, issued late Thursday night. A flaw in this update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating system, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems, with some encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The software issue impacted nearly every major industry, affecting healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions, but airlines and airports suffered the most. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and more than 5,171 flights were canceled, with Delta experiencing the most severe impact.
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. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He emphasized Delta’s commitment to connecting people and acknowledged the difficulties caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian noted that the airline relies on numerous applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including one essential for tracking crew schedules, which was unable to handle the disruptions caused by the software failure. To aid affected customers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, mentioning that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He emphasized the necessity for Delta to provide refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursement for passengers facing meal and hotel costs.
“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.