Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as it continued to recover from a global software outage that had disrupted operations for three days.
The Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday, according to FlightAware. In total, Delta and Delta Connection had previously canceled over 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for about 20% of its intended flights for the day. In contrast, American Airlines canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, representing about 5% of its operations.
The problems for Delta arose from a flawed software update conducted by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, preventing corporate users from accessing essential systems and leading to instances of the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions, with airlines and airports experiencing particularly severe effects. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,171 canceled, with Delta being hit the hardest.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He emphasized that Delta understands the challenges travelers face when their plans are disrupted.
Bastian noted that many of Delta’s applications depend on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial tool for crew tracking that could not manage the necessary changes due to the system failure. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg remarked on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. He emphasized that the airline should offer refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for affected customers’ food and lodging expenses.
“No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg stated.