Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as it continued to recover from a global software outage that disrupted operations over the weekend. The Atlanta-based airline had already canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday, following the cancellation of over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday.
As of Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which constitutes about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines had a much smaller impact, canceling 38 flights and delaying 155, representing around 5% of its planned flights.
The turmoil at Delta resulted from a flawed software update executed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. This defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, preventing corporate users from accessing their systems and resulting in some users encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread repercussions across multiple sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard hit, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and over 5,171 cancellations on Friday alone, as reported by FlightAware, with Delta facing the most significant disruptions.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that they are a last resort and not taken lightly. He extended apologies to all passengers affected by the circumstances, affirming Delta’s commitment to connecting travelers and acknowledging the challenges posed by disrupted travel plans.
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for numerous applications, including a tool related to crew tracking that failed to function after the system crash. In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without fees and has also provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation where necessary.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg mentioned on social media that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta is required to offer refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for affected customers’ food and lodging expenses. Buttigieg further stated that no passenger should have to deal with overnight airport stays or long waits for customer service help.