Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continues to recover from a global software outage that disrupted operations for three days.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 according to FlightAware. This followed the cancellation of over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights from Friday to Saturday.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which totals about 20% of its scheduled operations for the day. In comparison, American Airlines canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, equating to about 5% of its operations.
The airline’s difficulties arose due to a problematic software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. A flaw in the update negatively impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to critical systems and causing some to encounter the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident affected nearly every major industry, including healthcare providers, delivery services, retail, and financial institutions. Airlines and airports suffered the most, with over 46,000 flights delayed and 5,171 canceled on just Friday, according to FlightAware, resulting in significant impacts for Delta.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the situation, 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. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian further explained that Delta relies on numerous applications using Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking that could not adjust due to the system’s shutdown. The airline is offering affected customers a travel waiver for free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented on social media that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He stated that Delta must provide refunds, facilitate free rebooking, and ensure timely reimbursement for food and lodging to 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 added.