Delta Air Lines has faced significant disruptions, canceling hundreds of flights on Monday following a global software outage that began three days earlier and affected trips worldwide. The airline canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed around 1,600 on Sunday, with over 3,500 cancellations between Friday and Saturday.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, comprising roughly 20% of its operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and delayed 155 flights, which is about 5% of its schedule.
The chaos stemmed from a failed software update by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday night. This update had a defect that affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and encountering issues like the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports experiencing some of the worst effects. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and an additional 5,171 were canceled, with Delta suffering the most significant impact.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating that flight cancellations are always a last resort. He offered apologies to those affected and highlighted Delta’s commitment to connecting the world. Bastian explained that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial tool for crew tracking that could not function during the outage. In response, Delta is providing travel waivers for free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation for impacted travelers.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also addressed the situation, noting that his department received numerous complaints about Delta’s management of the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta must ensure refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursement for affected customers’ food and hotel expenses. Buttigieg insisted that no one should have to spend the night stranded at an airport or endure prolonged waits for customer service assistance.