Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it struggled to recover from a global software outage that had disrupted travel for three days.
According to FlightAware, the Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed another 1,600 on Sunday. In total, over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights were canceled between Friday and Saturday. As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, amounting to about 20% of its planned operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and delayed 155 flights, representing about 5% of its schedule.
The root of Delta’s issues was a problematic software update executed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday night, which affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This flaw left many corporate users without access to their systems, with some encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The software glitch had widespread impacts, affecting various industries including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced particularly severe disruptions. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 were canceled nationwide, with Delta being the most affected carrier.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He apologized to customers impacted by the situation and emphasized Delta’s commitment to travel connectivity. In light of the situation, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no cost and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted on social media that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the disruptions. He asserted that Delta must offer refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for expenses incurred by affected passengers. Buttigieg emphasized that no traveler should be left stranded overnight at an airport or forced to wait for extended periods for customer service assistance.