Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continued to deal with the fallout from a global software outage. This incident, which occurred three days prior, disrupted travel plans worldwide.
According to FlightAware, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday. Over the course of Friday and Saturday, the airline had already canceled more than 3,500 flights, including those operated by Delta Connection.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, making up about 5% of its planned flights.
The problems facing Delta stemmed from a flawed software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. This defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing corporate users, including those in the airline industry, to lose access to critical systems and, in some cases, experience the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
A wide range of industries, from healthcare to retail and financial services, felt the impact of this outage, but airlines, particularly Delta, were among the hardest hit. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and another 5,171 were canceled, as reported by FlightAware.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort. He offered apologies to travelers affected by the disruption, acknowledging the difficulty of interrupted travel plans. Bastian highlighted that the airline relies on a substantial number of Microsoft applications, including tools for crew tracking, which were unable to function due to the system shutdown. To assist affected passengers, Delta introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, mentioning that the Department of Transportation received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta must ensure refunds, offer free rebooking, and provide prompt reimbursements for food and lodging to all affected travelers. Buttigieg concluded, stressing that no one should be left stranded at an airport overnight or forced to wait for extended periods on the phone for customer service.