Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continues to deal with the fallout from a global software outage that interrupted travel for three days.
The Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 flights on Sunday, according to FlightAware. From Friday to Saturday, Delta had canceled over 3,500 flights across Delta and Delta Connection.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounts for about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, roughly 5% of its planned flights.
The issues for Delta were triggered by a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday night. A flaw in the update affected Microsoft Windows operating systems, preventing corporate users from accessing their systems and in some instances resulting in the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had wide-ranging impacts across major industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines, particularly Delta, were heavily affected, with over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware.
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 apologize to everyone impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it is when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian noted that Delta relies on numerous applications using Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking that couldn’t adapt to the unexpected system shutdown. As a response, Delta has offered a travel waiver that allows customers to change flights without charge, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg mentioned on social media that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta is required to provide refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursements for food and hotel expenses for 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 added.