Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continued to recover from a global software outage that affected operations for three consecutive days.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed around 1,600, as reported by FlightAware. This came on the heels of over 3,500 cancellations by Delta and Delta Connection from Friday to Saturday.
By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, representing about 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, accounting for roughly 5% of its planned flights.
The airline’s challenges stemmed from a flawed software update executed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. The defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating system, leaving many users, including those in corporate settings, unable to access vital systems, resulting in significant disruptions such as the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a ripple effect across various industries, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced the most severe impacts. On Friday, over 46,000 flights faced delays, and more than 5,100 were canceled.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating that canceling a flight is a last resort and acknowledging the customer difficulties caused by the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta is committed to connecting the world and understands the inconvenience of travel interruptions.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on several applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including tools crucial for crew tracking that were unable to function after the software shutdown. To assist affected customers, Delta is offering a travel waiver for flight changes, as well as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg revealed on social media that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the situation, insisting that the airline must offer refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursements for food and lodging to those impacted.
“No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg stated.