Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continues to recover from a global software failure that grounded flights and caused delays worldwide three days ago.
The Atlanta-based carrier reported the cancellation of 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 flights on Sunday, according to FlightAware. In total, Delta and Delta Connection had canceled more than 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing about 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, which is roughly 5% of its planned flights.
The disruptions stemmed from a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. A flaw in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to their systems and dealing with issues like the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted numerous sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports were particularly affected, with over 46,000 flights delayed and 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, and Delta faced the most severe consequences.
“Canceling a flight is always a last resort and something we don’t take lightly,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian in a statement. He apologized to those affected, emphasizing Delta’s commitment to connecting the world and recognizing the difficulties caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian mentioned that Delta relies on a “significant number of applications” using Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking that was unable to respond to changes due to the system shutdown. In response to the situation, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without penalty and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, stating that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta should provide refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for affected customers’ food and hotel expenses.
“But no one should be stranded at an airport overnight or left waiting on hold for hours to speak with a customer service representative,” Buttigieg remarked.