Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline is still reeling from a global software outage that disrupted travel worldwide three days prior. The Atlanta-based carrier scrapped 1,300 flights and delayed another 1,600 on Sunday, as reported by FlightAware. Over the preceding Friday and Saturday, more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights were canceled.
As of approximately 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, amounting to about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported just 38 cancellations and 155 delays, which is around 5% of its planned flights.
The airline’s troubles began from a flawed software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. This defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users without system access and, in some instances, experiencing the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread repercussions across various industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights faced delays, and 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most affected.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He acknowledged the challenge faced by travelers due to the disruptions and emphasized Delta’s commitment to connecting the world.
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for numerous applications, including a crucial crew tracking tool that was unable to adapt to the sudden system failure. In response to the chaos, Delta has introduced a travel waiver, allowing customers to modify their flights at no additional cost, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, revealing that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He asserted that Delta is obligated to provide refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursements for affected customers’ food and lodging expenses. “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” Buttigieg emphasized.