Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continued to recover from a global software outage that had impacted air travel for three days.
The Atlanta-based airline saw the cancellation of 1,300 flights and 1,600 delays on Sunday, as reported by FlightAware. Over the course of Friday and Saturday, Delta had already canceled more than 3,500 flights in conjunction with its Delta Connection service.
By around 8 a.m. ET Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed an additional 144, which accounted for approximately 20% of its planned operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, representing about 5% of their scheduled flights.
The disruptions originated from a flawed software update by cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike that took place late Thursday night. This issue affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users unable to access essential systems and, in some cases, confronted with the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage impacted various sectors, including healthcare, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports faced some of the most significant effects. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights experienced delays, and 5,171 were canceled, with Delta being the most affected.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that canceling flights is a last resort. He apologized to customers impacted by the disruptions, emphasizing that Delta specializes in connecting travelers worldwide.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on numerous applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, one of which tracks crew changes that were disrupted during the system outages. To assist affected passengers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights at no cost, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg shared on social media that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the issues. He indicated that Delta should provide refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursements for food and accommodations to those impacted.
“No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or left on hold for hours waiting to speak with a customer service representative,” Buttigieg added.