Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continued to recover from a global software failure that disrupted operations for three consecutive days.
On Sunday, Delta canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware. The airline had previously called off over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights over the course of Friday and Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which constituted about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, equating to about 5% of its planned services.
The airline’s difficulties originated from a flawed software update implemented by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike late Thursday. This defect impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, affecting corporate users’ access and causing some to encounter the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The ripple effects of this incident were felt across numerous sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, while an additional 5,171 flights were canceled, with Delta facing the brunt of the impact.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He apologized to affected travelers, emphasizing Delta’s commitment to connecting people and acknowledging the difficulties caused by such disruptions.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on many applications utilizing Windows, including tools for tracking crew assignments, which were rendered inoperable due to the system outage. In response, the airline has offered a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without fee, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on social media that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He emphasized that Delta is obligated to refund customer fares, provide options for free rebooking, and promptly reimburse expenses for meals and lodging to affected passengers.
“No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg asserted.