Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continued to deal with the fallout from a global software outage that had grounded and delayed trips worldwide for three days.
The Atlanta-based airline reported the cancellation of 1,300 flights and 1,600 delays on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware. Earlier, over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights were canceled between Friday and Saturday, marking a challenging period for the airline.
By approximately 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines had significantly fewer issues, with only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing around 5% of its planned flights.
The trouble for Delta arose from a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday night. This defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and facing issues like the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had wide-ranging repercussions across various industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. The airline sector experienced particularly severe impacts, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most severely affected.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the situation, 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.” He emphasized Delta’s commitment to connecting people and acknowledged the difficulties caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on a variety of applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including a tool for tracking crew members, which was unable to process the necessary changes after the system shut down. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with providing meal vouchers and accommodations.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented on the situation via social media, noting that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disturbances. He emphasized that Delta must ensure refunds, offer free rebooking options, and provide timely reimbursements for food and lodging to passengers affected by the disruptions. Buttigieg insisted that no one should be left stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold while waiting for customer service assistance.