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 occurred three days prior, affecting operations worldwide.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, based on data from FlightAware. Between Friday and Saturday, more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights were also canceled.
By Monday morning, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which amounted to about 20% of its planned operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, representing around 5% of its schedule.
The problems began following a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. The update inadvertently impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, preventing corporate users from accessing their systems and leading to widespread issues, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
Various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, experienced disruptions, but airlines, particularly Delta, were among the most severely affected. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers due to the disruptions.
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for numerous applications, including tools essential for crew tracking, which were compromised due to the system failure. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, mentioning that his department received numerous complaints about Delta’s response to the outages. He emphasized that Delta must provide refunds, allow free rebooking, and deliver timely reimbursements for food and accommodation to those impacted.
“Buttigieg emphasized that no one should be left stranded overnight at airports or forced to endure long waits for customer service support,” he stated.