Delta Air Lines canceled a significant number of flights on Monday as the airline continued to recover from a global software outage that disrupted travel for three days.
The Atlanta-based airline had already canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday, following over 3,500 cancellations and delays from Friday to Saturday. By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta reported 626 cancellations and 144 delays, accounting for approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, representing about 5% of its planned flights.
The problems originated from a faulty software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This issue left numerous corporate users without access and caused some to experience the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.” The disruption impacted various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline industry faced one of the most severe impacts. On the day following the outage, over 46,000 flights were delayed, alongside more than 5,171 cancellations, with Delta being the most affected.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He acknowledged the inconvenience caused and emphasized Delta’s mission to connect people. The airline has issued a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without incurring fees and offered compensation in the form of meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
In response to the disruptions, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced on social media that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He insisted that Delta must ensure refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for affected travelers’ meals and lodging. Buttigieg further stated that “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”