Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday with the cancellation of hundreds of flights, struggling to recover from a global software outage that affected operations for three consecutive days.
On Sunday, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, following the cancellation of over 3,500 flights, including those operated by Delta Connection, between Friday and Saturday. As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, the airline had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for about 20% of its planned operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, amounting to about 5% of its schedule.
The problems originated from a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday night, which negatively impacted Microsoft Windows operating systems. This left many corporate users unable to access systems and in some cases faced the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread repercussions across numerous industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines, however, experienced some of the most significant effects, with over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,000 cancellations recorded on Friday alone, with Delta being particularly hard hit.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, noting that canceling flights is a last resort and apologizing to affected travelers. He highlighted that Delta’s reliance on various applications running on Microsoft Windows contributed to the disruptions, particularly affecting tools necessary for crew tracking. In response, Delta implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge, alongside offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding how Delta managed the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta needs to ensure refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for expenses related to food and hotels for impacted customers, insisting that no one should have to spend a night stranded at an airport or endure long holds to reach customer service.