Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as it continued to recover from a significant global software outage that disrupted operations for three days.
The Atlanta-based airline reported that it canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday alone, with over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights canceled between Friday and Saturday. As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, amounting to around 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, representing about 5% of its planned flights.
The disruptions were traced back to a problematic software update by CrowdStrike, which affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems late Thursday night. This issue left numerous corporate users unable to access their systems, often encountering the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted multiple industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports faced particularly severe consequences. On Friday alone, there were over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations, with Delta being the most affected airline.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly… 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 many of Delta’s critical applications use Microsoft Windows, which contributed to the challenges in tracking crew changes during the outage.
Delta has offered a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no charge, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, mentioning that the department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta is obligated to provide refunds, facilitate free rebooking, and offer timely reimbursements for food and lodging to those affected. Buttigieg remarked, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”