Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline worked to recover from a global software outage that disrupted travel for three days. This follows the cancellation of 1,300 flights and the delay of 1,600 on Sunday. Between Friday and Saturday, Delta had already canceled over 3,500 flights.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which represented about 20% of its scheduled operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, roughly 5% of its planned flights.
The troubles for Delta originated from a flawed software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. A defect in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing significant access issues for corporate users and in some cases resulted in the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines, particularly Delta, were severely affected, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,100 flights canceled on Friday alone.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He apologized to travelers affected by the disruptions, emphasizing Delta’s commitment to connecting the world.
Bastian noted that a considerable number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking, which were unable to respond to changes due to the software issues. In response, Delta has rolled out a travel waiver for customers, enabling free flight changes, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
In the wake of the chaos, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg revealed that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He insisted that Delta needs to ensure refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for food and lodging for affected travelers. “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg remarked.