Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continued to deal with severe aftereffects from a global software outage that had grounded flights and caused delays around the world.
The Atlanta-based airline had already canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday, according to FlightAware. Across Friday and Saturday, Delta and Delta Connection had more than 3,500 flights canceled.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights, amounting to about 20% of its scheduled operations, and delayed 144 flights. In comparison, American Airlines reported only 38 flight cancellations and 155 delays, making up roughly 5% of its planned flights.
The problems for Delta stemmed from a failed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This left many corporate users unable to access their systems and, in some instances, confronted with the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted numerous sectors including healthcare, retail, logistics, and finance, with airlines and airports suffering the most significant effects. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, with Delta particularly hard hit.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort,” and emphasized the company’s commitment to connecting travelers despite the disruptions. He noted that a significant number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial tool for tracking crew operations, which was unable to function due to the software issues. The airline has introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights for free, alongside offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, stating that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He urged the airline to ensure refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for affected customers. “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” he remarked.