Delta Air Lines announced the cancellation of hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline faces challenges recovering from a global software outage that impacted operations worldwide.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 according to FlightAware. From Friday to Saturday, over 3,500 flights operated by Delta and its connection carriers were also canceled. By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for approximately 20% of its planned operations. In contrast, American Airlines experienced significantly fewer disruptions, canceling only 38 flights and delaying 155.
The problems originated from a flawed software update conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. This defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, disrupting access for corporate users and causing instances of the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had wide-reaching consequences, affecting numerous industries including healthcare, retail, and finance. Airlines faced the brunt of the impact, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and an additional 5,171 canceled on Friday, with Delta suffering the most disruptions.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He noted that Delta relies on multiple applications using Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking, which were unable to function due to the system shutdown. Delta is offering travel waivers, enabling customers to change their flights at no charge, alongside providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
On Sunday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged receiving “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He stated that Delta is obligated to provide refunds, free rebooking options, and quick reimbursements for food and lodging expenses incurred by affected passengers. Buttigieg emphasized that no one should be left stranded at airports overnight or endure long waits to connect with customer service.