Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it struggled to recover from a global software outage that affected operations for three consecutive days.
On Sunday alone, the Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed another 1,600, according to FlightAware. The previous Friday and Saturday saw over 3,500 cancellations for both Delta and Delta Connection flights. By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for approximately 20% of its planned operations. In contrast, American Airlines canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, representing about 5% of their flights.
The root of Delta’s issues can be traced to a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday night. A defect in this update impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing significant disruptions for corporate users and resulting in some experiencing the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident affected nearly all major industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports were particularly hard-hit. FlightAware reported that on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and an additional 5,171 were canceled, with Delta bearing the brunt of these disruptions.
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.” He emphasized the company’s commitment to connecting people and acknowledged the challenges caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on a considerable number of applications that use Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking, which were hindered by the system shutdown. In response to the situation, the airline has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no extra cost, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding how Delta managed the disruptions. He asserted that Delta must ensure refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for affected customers’ food and hotel expenses. Buttigieg remarked, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”