Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling over 600 flights due to ongoing issues from a recent global software outage that affected operations for several days. This situation arose after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late last Thursday caused problems for Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate clients, including airlines, without the necessary access to their systems.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed around 1,600, adding to the more than 3,500 flights that were canceled over the preceding two days. By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144—representing about 20% of its planned operations. In contrast, American Airlines managed to cancel only 38 flights and delay 155, equivalent to about 5% of its scheduled flights.
The impact of the software glitch extended beyond Delta, affecting various sectors including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. More than 46,000 flights were delayed and over 5,000 were canceled nationwide on the day following the software failure, with Delta being one of the most severely impacted airlines.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret, stating that canceling flights is not taken lightly, and underscored the challenges travelers face during such disruptions. He emphasized that the airline relies heavily on numerous applications dependent on Microsoft Windows, notably including tools for crew tracking that were unable to respond properly due to the outage.
To mitigate the effects of the cancellations, Delta has introduced a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights at no additional cost. The airline is also providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation to those affected.
In response to the situation, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg acknowledged receiving numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He stressed the importance of Delta offering refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for expenses incurred by affected customers, ensuring that no one is left stranded or facing long wait times for customer service assistance.