Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as it continues to cope with the aftermath of a global software outage that disrupted travel for several days.
The Atlanta-based airline canceled approximately 1,300 flights on Sunday and delayed around 1,600, according to FlightAware data. This followed the cancellation of over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, which is about 5% of its planned services.
The problems originated from a faulty software update conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users unable to access their systems and, in some cases, leading to the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The software malfunction impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports were particularly hard hit, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and over 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, as reported by FlightAware, with Delta facing the largest impact.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the disruptions in a statement, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort. He apologized to all affected travelers, reiterating Delta’s commitment to connecting the world and acknowledging the difficulties caused by travel interruptions.
Bastian indicated that Delta relies on numerous applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including tools related to crew tracking that were unable to manage the changes prompted by the system failure. Delta is providing a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no cost, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg noted on social media that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disruption. He stated that Delta must ensure refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for food and lodging to those affected.
Buttigieg added, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”