Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges, canceling hundreds of flights on Monday as it continues to recover from a global software outage that disrupted travel for three days.
On Sunday alone, the Atlanta-based airline canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed around 1,600, as reported by FlightAware. Between Friday and Saturday, the airline had already canceled over 3,500 flights. By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for 20% of its planned operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing about 5% of their scheduled flights.
The problems for Delta were linked to a faulty software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday evening. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, affecting corporate users who found themselves unable to access their systems and, in some instances, encountering the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every significant industry, including healthcare, delivery, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports were particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 were canceled. Delta experienced the most severe disruptions.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, emphasizing that they are always a last resort. He apologized to those affected, highlighting that Delta’s mission is to connect the world and acknowledging the difficulties when travel plans are disrupted.
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, which affected critical tools like crew tracking during the system shutdown. To assist impacted customers, Delta is offering a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He stressed that Delta must ensure refunds, offer free rebooking options, and provide timely reimbursements for food and lodging for those affected. He emphasized that no traveler should be left stranded overnight at an airport or waiting for extended periods to reach customer service.