Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline seeks to recover from a significant global software outage that disrupted travel for three days. The Atlanta-based carrier canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday, following the cancellation of over 3,500 flights between Delta and Delta Connection from Friday to Saturday.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines had only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, about 5% of its planned flights.
The root of Delta’s issues was traced to a failed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday night. This defect impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users losing access to necessary systems and experiencing issues like the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident affected nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports were particularly hard hit, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and over 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant disruptions.
“Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly,” stated Delta CEO Ed Bastian on Sunday. He expressed regret for the disruptions caused to travelers, emphasizing Delta’s mission to connect the world.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on numerous applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that was unable to function due to the system failure. To assist affected travelers, Delta has issued a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also addressed the situation on social media, stating that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He emphasized that the airline must ensure refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for food and lodging for those impacted.
“No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg added.