Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continued to recover from a global software outage that impacted travel worldwide.
On Sunday, Delta canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to data from FlightAware. The airline had already seen more than 3,500 flight cancellations for Delta and Delta Connection between Friday and Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta reported 626 cancellations and 144 delays for the day, which accounted for around 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines canceled just 38 flights and delayed 155, representing about 5% of its planned flights.
The disruptions were caused by a flawed software update implemented by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday, which adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. As a result, corporate users experienced access issues, with some facing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The ramifications of the incident were felt across various sectors, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and finance, but airlines, particularly Delta, suffered the most severe consequences. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and an additional 5,171 were canceled.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology to affected travelers, emphasizing that flight cancellations are always a last resort. He noted that a substantial number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a tool essential for crew tracking that failed due to the system outage. To assist affected travelers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free changes to flight bookings, as well as offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented on the situation via social media, mentioning that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. Buttigieg stressed that Delta is obligated to provide refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursement for food and lodging expenses incurred by customers. He added that passengers should not have to endure long wait times or be left stranded overnight at airports.