Delta Air Lines canceled a significant number of flights on Monday as the airline worked to recover from a global software outage that had grounded and delayed flights for three days.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware. The situation escalated over the weekend, with the airline previously canceling over 3,500 flights, including Delta and Delta Connection, between Friday and Saturday.
By around 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for about 20% of its scheduled services. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing approximately 5% of its planned operations.
The disruption stemmed from a faulty software update by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday. This defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users unable to access their systems and, in certain instances, encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage had widespread repercussions across numerous sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports were particularly hard hit. On that Friday, more than 46,000 flights were delayed and another 5,171 canceled, with Delta experiencing the most significant impact.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort. He apologized to those affected, noting that Delta’s mission is to connect travelers worldwide and that disruptions like these are challenging.
Bastian also mentioned that many of Delta’s applications, including a critical crew tracking tool, rely on Microsoft Windows and were unable to manage the operational changes necessitated by the shutdown. The airline has since implemented a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights free of charge, and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation. He asserted that Delta is responsible for offering refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursement for food and lodging to customers affected by the disruptions.
“But nobody should be left stranded at an airport overnight or on hold for extended periods waiting to reach customer service,” Buttigieg added.