Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continues to face challenges in recovering from a global software outage that disrupted travel worldwide three days earlier.
On Sunday, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware. This followed a previous cancellation of over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday.
As of approximately 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta reported 626 canceled flights and 144 delayed flights, accounting for about 20% of its planned operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines had a much smaller disruption, canceling only 38 flights and delaying 155, which is roughly 5% of its scheduled flights.
The problems for Delta arose from a failed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday night. A flaw in this update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users unable to access their systems and, in some cases, causing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread effects across nearly every major industry, impacting healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions. Airlines, particularly Delta, were hit hard, with over 46,000 flights delayed and 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology on Sunday, emphasizing that canceling flights is always a last resort. “I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted,” he stated.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on a significant number of applications using Microsoft Windows, including tools for tracking crews, which could not accommodate changes due to the system failure. The airline has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights for free, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
On Sunday evening, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, reporting that the department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He asserted that Delta is obligated to offer refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for meals and hotel stays to affected passengers.
“No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg remarked.