Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline deals with the aftermath of a significant global software outage that disrupted travel for several days. The Atlanta-based carrier had already canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday, building on more than 3,500 flight cancellations between Friday and Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing about 5% of their flights.
The disruptions were linked to a faulty software update initiated by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday, which adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This left corporate users unable to access their systems and facing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.” The fallout from the incident impacted numerous sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines experiencing some of the most severe effects. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 were canceled.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating that canceling flights is a last resort for the company. He acknowledged the challenges faced by affected travelers and assured that Delta is committed to reconnecting people. Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no cost, along with providing meal vouchers, accommodations, and transportation assistance.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted on social media that the department had received numerous complaints about Delta’s management of the situation. He emphasized that Delta is expected to issue refunds, offer free rebooking, and provide timely reimbursements for expenses related to food and hotel stays incurred by affected passengers. Buttigieg stressed that no traveler should find themselves stranded at an airport overnight or wait for extended periods to reach customer service.