Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continued to recover from a major software outage that left travelers worldwide stranded and delayed.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, impacting about 20% of its operations, according to FlightAware. This came after the airline had already canceled more than 3,500 flights over the preceding days. Reports indicated that as of Monday morning, 626 flights were canceled and 144 were delayed. In contrast, American Airlines had minimal disruption, with only 38 cancellations and 155 delays.
The software issues arose from a problematic update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which negatively affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This left many corporate users, including Delta, without access to essential systems, leading to system outages and complications.
The incident produced a widespread impact across numerous sectors, including healthcare, retail, and finance, but was particularly devastating for airlines. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, and more than 5,000 were canceled, with Delta being the most significantly affected.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the situation, emphasizing that canceling flights is always a last resort and apologizing to those impacted. He noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including tools vital for crew tracking, which failed to adapt during the outage.
To assist affected travelers, Delta introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg shared on social media that his department received numerous complaints about Delta’s handling of the disruptions and stressed the importance of refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for stranded customers. He highlighted the need for immediate customer service to prevent passengers from enduring long waits or being left in airports overnight.