Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it attempted to recover from a global software outage that had affected operations for three days.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 more, with over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights scrapped between Friday and Saturday, according to FlightAware. By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for about 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines experienced only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing around 5% of its planned flights.
The airline’s troubles are linked to a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which went live late Thursday night. This defect impacted Microsoft Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users without access and facing issues such as the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage affected a wide range of industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports bore the brunt of the fallout. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, with Delta being the most significantly impacted.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed his 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 every one of you who have been impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
He noted that the airline relies on many applications running on Microsoft Windows, including key tools for crew tracking, which were hindered by the system issues. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to modify their flights without charge, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reported receiving numerous complaints about Delta’s management of the situation. He emphasized that Delta must ensure refunds, facilitate free rebooking, and offer timely reimbursements for food and lodging to those affected. “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg stated.