Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights as it continues to deal with the fallout from a global software failure that disrupted travel for three days. On Sunday alone, the Atlanta-based airline scrapped approximately 1,300 flights and delayed around 1,600 others, as reported by FlightAware. The previous Friday and Saturday, Delta had already canceled over 3,500 flights across both Delta and Delta Connection.
According to reports, as of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines managed to cancel only 38 flights and delay 155, representing about 5% of its planned flights.
The disruptions were linked to a faulty software update issued by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This led to many corporate users being unable to access necessary systems and, in some cases, encountering the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident caused widespread disruptions across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard hit, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,171 canceled on the impacted Friday.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed his concerns regarding 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 the airline’s commitment to connecting the world and the difficulties faced by travelers during such disruptions.
Bastian highlighted that Delta has a “significant number of applications” reliant on Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking, which were adversely affected by the software failure. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing for free flight changes and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg mentioned on social media that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He insisted that Delta must ensure refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for food and accommodations for those affected. Buttigieg also emphasized the importance of not leaving passengers stranded at airports overnight or waiting excessively for customer service assistance.