Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continues to deal with the fallout from a global software outage that occurred three days earlier, leading to widespread disruptions worldwide.
The Atlanta-based airline reported 1,300 canceled flights and 1,600 delays on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware. This followed a staggering total of over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights that were canceled between Friday and Saturday.
As of approximately 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 canceled flights and 155 delays, impacting about 5% of its planned schedule.
The primary issue for Delta arose from a flawed software update conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday night. This defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users without access to systems and causing some to experience the dreaded “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a widespread impact across various industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline sector was particularly hard-hit. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights experienced delays, and 5,171 were canceled, with Delta being the most affected airline.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued a statement on Sunday, expressing that canceling flights is always a last resort and apologizing to those affected by the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta is committed to connecting travelers and understands the challenges of travel interruptions.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on a multitude of applications using Microsoft Windows, including tools necessary for crew tracking, which were unable to adapt to the system shutdown. To assist impacted customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free changes to flights, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also addressed the situation on social media, stating that his department has received numerous complaints about Delta’s response to the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta must offer refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursement for expenses related to food and lodging for customers affected by the situation, adding that no one should be left stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for extended periods trying to reach customer service.