Delta Air Lines faced significant challenges on Monday as it canceled hundreds of flights in the aftermath of a global software failure that had stranded travelers over the weekend. This situation unfolded after a botched software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and, in some cases, encountering severe errors.
On Sunday, Delta canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed around 1,600, accumulating more than 3,500 canceled flights between Friday and Saturday. By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, the airline had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, amounting to about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 canceled flights and 155 delays, which constitutes about 5% of its planned flights.
The incident caused widespread disruption across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports experienced the most significant impact, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, as per FlightAware data.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, emphasizing that they are always a last resort. He apologized to those affected, acknowledging the challenges of travel disruption. He noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many applications, including essential crew tracking systems, which were unable to function properly due to the outage.
To alleviate customer concerns, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without penalty and provided additional assistance such as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg shared that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He stressed the need for Delta to ensure that customers receive refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursements for meals and hotel stays, stating that no one should be left stranded at an airport or waiting for hours to speak with customer service.