Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights as it continues to deal with disruptions following a global software outage that occurred three days ago. The Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware, and had already canceled over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, amounting to about 20% of its scheduled operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 canceled flights and 155 delays, representing around 5% of its planned operations.
The issues originated from a faulty software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that went live late Thursday night. This update inadvertently affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leading to a significant loss of access among corporate users and causing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death” for some systems.
The incident impacted nearly every major sector, including healthcare, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports faced particularly severe repercussions. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed and over 5,171 flights were canceled according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the worst of the situation.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology on Sunday, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort and expressing regret for the disruptions caused to travelers. He noted that Delta relies on a significant number of Microsoft-based applications, including those for crew tracking, which were rendered ineffective following the system shutdown. Delta has rolled out a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without charge, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.
On social media, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg revealed that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the interruptions. He emphasized the necessity for Delta to offer refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for food and lodging to those affected, asserting that no passenger should have to spend the night at the airport or endure long wait times for customer service assistance.