Delta Air Lines experienced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continues to recover from a global software failure that had grounded and delayed flights for three days.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed around 1,600, according to FlightAware. Over the weekend, the airline had already scrapped more than 3,500 flights, including those operated by Delta Connection.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines managed to cancel only 38 flights and delay 155, representing about 5% of its operations.
The chaos appears to have stemmed from a problematic software update by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late on Thursday night. This update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems, with some experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The repercussions were widespread, impacting various sectors, including healthcare, retail, logistics, and financial services. The airline industry faced the brunt of the fallout, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most heavily affected.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology on Sunday, acknowledging the challenges faced by travelers. “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly,” he stated. He noted that Delta employs many applications reliant on Microsoft Windows, including critical crew tracking tools, which were unable to function due to the system failure. The airline has since offered a travel waiver for free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed concerns on social media about Delta’s management of the situation, stating that his department had received numerous complaints. He emphasized that Delta must provide affected customers with refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for expenses related to food and lodging.
“Buttigieg also stressed that no one should be left stranded at an airport overnight or have to endure long waits to speak with customer service representatives,” he added.