Delta Air Lines experienced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continued to recover from a global software outage that affected operations for three days.
On Sunday, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware. Prior to this, the airline had already canceled over 3,500 flights between Delta and Delta Connection from Friday to Saturday.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, amounting to about 20% of its planned operations for the day. In comparison, American Airlines canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, which is about 5% of its scheduled flights.
The root of Delta’s troubles lies in a faulty software update executed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday night. This issue impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users struggling with accessibility and, in some cases, facing the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident disrupted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports were particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,000 were canceled, with Delta suffering the most.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian addressed the situation, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort and expressing regret for the inconvenience caused. He acknowledged that Delta relies on a substantial number of applications using Microsoft Windows, including critical tools for crew tracking that were affected by the outage. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reported receiving “hundreds of complaints” regarding how Delta managed the disruptions. He stated that Delta is responsible for ensuring affected customers receive refunds, complimentary rebooking, and timely reimbursements for expenses related to food and lodging.
“Buttigieg remarked that nobody should have to spend the night stranded at an airport or endure lengthy waits to speak with customer service.”