Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges as it canceled hundreds of flights on Monday, following a global software outage that disrupted travel for several days.
The Atlanta-based airline scrapped approximately 1,300 flights on Sunday and delayed another 1,600, according to FlightAware. This followed the cancellation of over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights over the preceding Friday and Saturday. As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for around 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing about 5% of its planned flights.
The troubles at Delta have been linked to a failed software update conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late last Thursday. The defect in this update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access essential systems and experiencing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident reverberated across numerous industries, including healthcare, retail, financial services, and delivery, but the airline sector endured particularly severe setbacks. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed, with over 5,000 cancellations reported by FlightAware, with Delta suffering the most.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, emphasizing that such decisions are not taken lightly. He apologized to affected travelers and acknowledged the difficulties that disrupted travel can cause. Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for a variety of applications, including a crew tracking tool that was unable to adapt to the situation caused by the system failure. To assist affected passengers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, alongside meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.
Following the widespread complaints regarding the disruptions, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that his office had received “hundreds of complaints” related to Delta’s response. He emphasized that the airline must ensure refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for food and lodging for affected customers, adding that no one should have to endure stranded nights at airports or wait for long periods to reach customer service.