Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline attempts to recover from a global software outage that caused widespread delays and cancellations over the weekend.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware. The airline had already halted more than 3,500 flights over the Friday and Saturday period. By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which equates to approximately 20% of its planned operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines managed to cancel just 38 flights and delayed 155, about 5% of its planned flights.
The turmoil for Delta originated from a problematic software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. A flaw in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows systems, leaving corporate users with limited access and, in some instances, the dreaded “Blue Screen of Death.”
Several major industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, experienced disruptions due to this incident. However, the airline sector faced the most severe impacts, with over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta was particularly hard hit.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian addressed the situation in a statement, emphasizing that flight cancellations are taken seriously and apologizing to those affected. He acknowledged the challenges travelers face when their plans are disrupted and noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for various applications, including a tool for crew tracking, which was unable to function due to the software issues.
To assist affected customers, Delta is offering a travel waiver that allows passengers to change their flights without charge, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reported receiving “hundreds of complaints” about Delta’s response to the crisis via social media. He stressed the importance of providing refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for food and hotel expenses for impacted travelers.
“Buttigieg further emphasized that no traveler should be left stranded overnight at an airport or face long waits to speak with customer service.”