Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continued to recover from a global software outage that led to widespread travel delays over the weekend.
On Sunday alone, the Atlanta-based airline canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed an additional 1,600, according to FlightAware. The airline had already canceled over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday. By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, amounting to about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, around 5% of its operations.
The turmoil was linked to a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that occurred on Thursday night. A glitch in this update disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, impacting corporate users and leading to issues such as the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.” This incident affected nearly all major industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines faced the brunt of the fallout. On Friday, more than 46,000 flights were delayed, with over 5,000 cancellations, with Delta experiencing the worst effects.
In a statement on Sunday, 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.” He acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers saying, “Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian explained that many of Delta’s operational applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including tools essential for crew tracking, which were impacted by the outage. The airline issued a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without fees, and also provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support.
Additionally, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced on social media that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the travel disruptions. He insisted that Delta must offer refunds, facilitate free rebooking, and provide prompt reimbursements for food and hotel expenses incurred by affected customers. Buttigieg emphasized that no passenger should find themselves stranded at an airport overnight or left waiting on hold for an extended period to speak with customer service.