Delta Air Lines experienced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it attempted to recover from a global software outage that had grounded and delayed flights for three consecutive days.
The Atlanta-based airline reported the cancellation of 1,300 flights and 1,600 delays on Sunday, with earlier cancellations exceeding 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday, according to FlightAware data.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing roughly 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines reported just 38 cancellations and 155 delays, amounting to about 5% of its planned flights.
The ongoing issues for Delta are tied to a flawed software update executed by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike late Thursday, which inadvertently affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This left many corporate users without system access and experiencing severe errors such as the “Blue Screen of Death.”
Various industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, faced disruptions due to this incident, but airlines and airports experienced the most significant impact. More than 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, with Delta suffering the most severe effects.
“Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly,” stated Delta CEO Ed Bastian in a Sunday announcement. He expressed regret for the inconveniences faced by travelers, emphasizing Delta’s commitment to connecting people worldwide.
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on applications using Microsoft Windows, including tools essential for crew tracking that were disrupted by the outage. The airline has offered a travel waiver for customers to change their flights without penalty, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted late Sunday that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He insisted that Delta provide refunds, offer free rebooking, and ensure timely reimbursements for affected customers’ food and lodging expenses.
“No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg commented.