Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights as it continues to recover from a global software outage that affected travel worldwide. On Sunday alone, the airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, as reported by FlightAware. The disruption began after Delta canceled over 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday.
By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for approximately 20% of its planned operations. In contrast, American Airlines only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, constituting about 5% of its flights.
The root of Delta’s troubles lies in a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that occurred late Thursday. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users unable to access vital systems and encountering significant errors.
The software glitch affected various sectors, including healthcare, retail, finance, and notably, the airline industry, which saw over 46,000 flights delayed and 5,171 canceled just on Friday. Delta was particularly hard-hit.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, saying, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He extended his apologies to passengers impacted by these disruptions, emphasizing Delta’s commitment to connecting the world.
Bastian mentioned that a significant portion of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including tools essential for crew tracking that were rendered ineffective due to the outage. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no charge, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He urged that affected customers should be offered refunds, free rebooking options, and quick reimbursements for expenses related to food and lodging. Buttigieg stressed that no one should be left stranded at airports or endure lengthy waits to reach customer service.