Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continued to recover from a global software outage that caused widespread travel disruptions over the weekend.
Beginning on Sunday, Delta canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware. This followed the cancellation of more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday.
By Monday morning, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for around 20% of its planned operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, which represents about 5% of its service.
The disruptions were triggered by a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which was rolled out late Thursday. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users, including airlines, struggling to access their systems and encountering serious errors.
The outage impacted nearly every sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines experienced the brunt of the disruption, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware.
In a statement, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, saying, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” Bastian apologized to passengers affected by the disruptions and emphasized Delta’s commitment to seamless travel.
He noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows-based applications, including critical tools for tracking crew schedules, which were affected by the outage. Delta is now offering a travel waiver that allows customers to change their flights at no cost, alongside meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He stressed that customers should expect full refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursement for meals and hotel stays due to the disruptions, insisting, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”