Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, canceling over 600 flights as it continued to recover from a major global software outage that impacted airlines worldwide over the weekend. The outage, which originated from a faulty software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, had already led to the cancelation of approximately 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights coupled with 1,300 flight cancellations and 1,600 delays on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware data.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had cancelled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing about 20% of its planned operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, equating to roughly 5% of their operations.
The incident affected numerous sectors beyond aviation, including healthcare, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports bearing the brunt of the disruption. Friday saw a staggering number of travel issues with more than 46,000 flights delayed and over 5,171 canceled across the globe.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the situation, emphasizing that cancellations are a last resort and that Delta values its role in connecting travelers. He acknowledged the operational challenges that resulted from companies reliant on Microsoft Windows systems, including the airline’s crew tracking tools that were unable to operate correctly during the affected period.
In response to the disruptions, Delta has issued a travel waiver to allow affected customers to change flights without penalty and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transport services to mitigate travel hardships. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response, urging the airline to ensure that refunds, rebookings, and timely reimbursements for customers inconvenienced by the delays are addressed.
While the situation is undoubtedly challenging for the airline and its passengers, Delta’s commitment to providing compensation and support reflects an understanding of their customers’ needs. As the airline works to stabilize its service, there is hope that lessons learned from this incident will lead to improved systems and customer service for future travel experiences.