Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continued to recover from a global software outage that disrupted travel for three days.
The Atlanta-based airline had already scrapped 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday, following over 3,500 flight cancellations across Delta and Delta Connection between Friday and Saturday.
As of approximately 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for roughly 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines managed to cancel only 38 flights and delay 155, about 5% of its planned schedule.
The disruptions stemmed from a flawed software update carried out by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. The update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users unable to access systems and dealing with the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
Various industries were impacted by the incident, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard hit, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta was the airline most severely affected.
“Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated on Sunday. “I want to apologize to everyone 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 explained that a considerable number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that failed to process necessary changes due to the system’s shutdown. In response, Delta announced a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge, and it is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted on social media late Sunday that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He emphasized that Delta should provide refunds, free flight rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for food and lodging to affected passengers.
“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.