Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline worked to recover from a global software outage that occurred three days earlier. This incident led to widespread flight groundings and delays around the world.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware data. Over the weekend, the airline had already canceled more than 3,500 flights across its Delta and Delta Connection services.
As updates continued on Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for around 20% of its planned operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing about 5% of its scheduled flights.
The problems originated from a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that was executed late Thursday. A defect in the update negatively affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users, including Delta, unable to access critical systems, with some experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The fallout from the incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, retail, delivery, and finance, but airlines and airports were particularly hard-hit. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed, and an additional 5,171 were canceled. Delta bore the brunt of these issues.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement on Sunday, 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. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including essential tools for tracking crew schedules, which were hampered by the system malfunction. To mitigate the impact on travelers, Delta introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights for free, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Following the disruptions, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced on social media that the department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response. Buttigieg emphasized that Delta must offer refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursement for meals and hotel stays to those affected.
He further remarked, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”