Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continues to cope with the aftermath of a global software outage that grounded and delayed flights worldwide three days earlier.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled about 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware. This followed a more than 3,500 cancellations of Delta and Delta Connection flights from Friday to Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta reported 626 canceled flights and 144 delays, which accounted for roughly 20% of its planned operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines had canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, representing about 5% of its scheduled flights.
The issues at Delta resulted from a flawed software update executed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday, which affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This situation left many corporate users without access to necessary systems, leading to significant disruptions, including instances of the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and financial institutions, but airlines and airports faced the brunt of the fallout. On Friday alone, FlightAware recorded over 46,000 delayed flights and 5,171 cancellations, with Delta suffering the most.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that they are a last resort and not taken lightly. He apologized to travelers affected by the disruptions, emphasizing Delta’s commitment to connecting the world and recognizing the challenges caused by travel interruptions.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on a significant number of applications using Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking that could not adapt to the system failure. To assist affected passengers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg mentioned on social media that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the situation. He called for the airline to ensure refunds, enable free rebooking, and provide timely compensation for food and lodging for affected travelers. Buttigieg emphasized that no one should be left stranded at an airport overnight or be forced to wait on hold for extended periods to reach customer service.