Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline faced difficulties recovering from a global software outage that had caused widespread disruptions over the weekend.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 others, according to FlightAware data. The airline had previously grounded over 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday. By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for about 20% of its planned operations. In comparison, American Airlines reported 38 cancellations and 155 delays, which is about 5% of its scheduled flights.
The disruptions were triggered by a problematic software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike that was implemented late Thursday night. A flaw in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, preventing corporate users from accessing essential systems and causing instances of the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
Various sectors were impacted by this incident, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and financial institutions. Airlines suffered particularly severe repercussions; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, with Delta being the hardest hit.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed his regret, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. 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.”
Bastian noted that a significant number of Delta’s applications depend on Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that failed to process necessary changes due to the shutdown. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver enabling customers to change their flights without charge and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support.
On social media, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg mentioned that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He emphasized that Delta is obligated to offer refunds, assist with free rebooking, and ensure timely reimbursements for affected customers’ food and lodging expenses.
“No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg stated.