Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continued to recover from a global software outage that grounded and delayed flights worldwide for three days.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and reported 1,600 delays, according to data from FlightAware. This followed over 3,500 cancellations of Delta and Delta Connection flights from Friday to Saturday.
By around 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed another 144, amounting to about 20% of its scheduled operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines had minimal disruptions, with only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing roughly 5% of its planned flights.
The airline’s troubles were linked to a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday night. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, disrupting access for corporate users and causing a phenomenon known as the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The disruption impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare providers, delivery services, retail businesses, and financial institutions, with airlines and airports particularly hard hit. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were reported delayed, with an additional 5,171 cancellations, as noted by FlightAware, with Delta facing the most serious repercussions.
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. I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected by these events. Delta is here to connect the world, and we understand how challenging it is when travel plans are disrupted.”
Bastian mentioned that Delta relies on a wide range of Microsoft Windows applications, including a tool for tracking crew operations that was hampered by the system failure. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without additional fees, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reported receiving “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He emphasized that Delta is responsible for offering refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursements for expenses related to food and lodging for affected travelers.
“No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or forced to wait for hours to reach a customer service agent,” Buttigieg remarked.