Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as it continued to recover from a global software outage that caused widespread disruptions over the weekend. The Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights on Sunday and delayed another 1,600, according to FlightAware data. Over the course of Friday and Saturday, Delta and its regional partner Delta Connection had already canceled more than 3,500 flights.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, amounting to about 20% of its scheduled operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, roughly 5% of its flight schedules.
The disruptions were caused by a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which inadvertently affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This incident left many corporate users without system access and led to the notorious “Blue Screen of Death” error.
The fallout impacted a wide array of industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and banking. Airlines, particularly Delta, faced severe consequences, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,000 canceled on Friday alone.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret in a statement, saying, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone impacted by these events.” He emphasized the importance of connectivity and acknowledged the frustration faced by travelers.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on multiple applications that operate on Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking that failed to adapt to the system shutdown. To assist its customers, Delta is offering a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the situation. He stated that Delta has a responsibility to provide refunds, free rebooking options, and quick reimbursements for affected customers. “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg added.