Delta Air Lines has faced significant disruptions, canceling hundreds of flights on Monday as it continues to recover from a global software outage that affected operations over the weekend. The Atlanta-based airline canceled approximately 1,300 flights on Sunday and delayed another 1,600, following over 3,500 cancellations of Delta and Delta Connection flights from Friday to Saturday, according to data from FlightAware.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing around 20% of its scheduled operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, which is about 5% of its planned flights.
The disruptions were traced back to a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday night. This mishap affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users experiencing system failures and, in some instances, encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
Various industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, felt the effects, but the airline sector was particularly hard-hit. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and more than 5,171 were canceled, with Delta bearing the brunt of the chaos.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the flight cancellations, emphasizing the company’s commitment to connecting travelers and acknowledging the difficulties caused by the disruptions. Bastian highlighted that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a tool essential for crew tracking, which could not function due to the system failure.
To alleviate customer concerns, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing passengers to change their flights at no extra cost, in addition to offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Following the disruptions, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the situation. He emphasized that Delta must ensure refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for food and lodging for affected travelers. Buttigieg remarked that it is unacceptable for passengers to be stranded at airports overnight or to spend hours on hold waiting for customer service assistance.