Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as it continued to deal with the repercussions of a global software outage that grounded and delayed flights over the weekend.
On Sunday, the Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, as reported by FlightAware. Prior to that, over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights were canceled between Friday and Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines managed only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, amounting to about 5% of its planned flights.
The airline’s difficulties stem from a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday night. This defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing disruptions for corporate users, some of whom encountered the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly all major industries, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced the most significant consequences. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,171 were canceled, with Delta taking the brunt of the impact.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the disruptions in a statement, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort. He apologized to all affected passengers, highlighting the company’s commitment to facilitating travel.
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including a crucial crew tracking tool that was hindered by the system failures. The airline has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights at no cost, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
In response to the disruptions, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg noted on social media Sunday that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He emphasized the need for Delta to offer refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursements for food and lodging expenses incurred by affected travelers.
Buttigieg concluded by stating that no one should be left stranded in an airport overnight or forced to wait for extended periods to reach customer service.