Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continued to grapple with the aftermath of a global software outage that caused delays and cancellations over the weekend.
On Sunday, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed an additional 1,600, according to FlightAware. This followed previous cancellations of over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday due to the same issues.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing approximately 20% of its planned operations for the day. In comparison, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, accounting for about 5% of its flights.
The problems for Delta originated from a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which was rolled out late Thursday. The update malfunctioned, impacting Microsoft’s Windows operating systems and leaving many users without system access, with some experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage affected nearly all major industries, notably healthcare providers, delivery services, retail, and financial sectors. Airlines bore the brunt of the disruption, with more than 46,000 flight delays and over 5,000 cancellations reported on Friday alone, with Delta being one of the hardest-hit carriers.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret about the cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone impacted by these events.” He noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for numerous applications, including a crew tracking system that struggled to adapt to the shutdown.
To assist affected travelers, Delta has issued a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without charge, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
In response to the situation, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg indicated on social media that his office received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta should ensure refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for food and lodging to those impacted, stating, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”