Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline struggles to recover from a global software outage that disrupted travel worldwide three days earlier.
According to FlightAware, the Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday alone. Between Friday and Saturday, Delta had already canceled over 3,500 flights, including those operated by its regional partner, Delta Connection.
As of around 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing about 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines canceled just 38 flights and delayed 155, which accounts for roughly 5% of their planned flights.
The ongoing disruptions for Delta originate from a problematic software update conducted by CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm, late Thursday night. A flaw in this update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access and encountering the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had wide-reaching ramifications, impacting numerous industries such as healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines, in particular, experienced severe delays and cancellations; on Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 were canceled, with Delta bearing the brunt of the hits.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort. He apologized to customers affected by the disruptions, affirming that Delta strives to maintain global connectivity and understands the difficulties caused by travel interruptions.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on a substantial number of Microsoft Windows applications, including a crucial tool for tracking crew changes, which couldn’t operate following the system failure. To assist impacted passengers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
On social media, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg mentioned his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He urged the airline to offer refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursements for any costs incurred by affected travelers.
“No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg declared.