Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continued to recover from a major global software outage that impacted its operations for three days.
The Atlanta-based airline reported the cancellation of 1,300 flights on Sunday and delays for an additional 1,600, as per FlightAware data. Over the course of Friday and Saturday, Delta and its regional partner, Delta Connection, had already canceled more than 3,500 flights.
By around 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing approximately 20% of its scheduled flights for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 canceled flights and 155 delays, which is about 5% of its planned operations.
The turmoil resulted from a faulty software update by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike late Thursday, which inadvertently affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This left corporate users struggling with system access and issues like the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread repercussions across various sectors, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed, and another 5,171 canceled, with Delta experiencing the highest level of impact.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement on Sunday, acknowledging the consequences for affected travelers. “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly,” he stated. “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 Delta relied on a considerable number of applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including those linked to crew tracking, which were hindered by the system outage. The airline has implemented a travel waiver allowing passengers to modify their flights without charge, in addition to offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented on the situation via social media late Sunday, indicating that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the disruptions. He emphasized that the airline must provide refunds, options for free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for food and lodging to affected travelers. Buttigieg added, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”