Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday, continuing to grapple with the fallout from a global software outage that disrupted travel for three days. The Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600 on Sunday, following more than 3,500 cancellations between Friday and Saturday.
As of about 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which accounted for approximately 20% of its planned operations for the day. In comparison, American Airlines canceled only 38 flights and delayed 155, representing about 5% of its operations.
The troubles for Delta originated from a problematic software update executed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday night. A flaw in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users with inaccessible systems and encountering issues like the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a widespread impact, affecting multiple industries, including healthcare, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports facing the most significant disruptions. On Friday, over 46,000 flights faced delays, and an additional 5,171 were canceled, with Delta experiencing the worst of the situation.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement on Sunday, emphasizing that canceling flights is never taken lightly and acknowledging the difficulties faced by travelers. He indicated that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many applications, including tools for tracking crews, which were rendered nonfunctional due to the outage. In response to the disruptions, Delta has offered a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights without fees, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg mentioned on social media that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta must ensure refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursement for expenses related to food and hotel stays for affected passengers. Buttigieg further remarked that no traveler should be left stranded at an airport overnight or endure long waits to reach customer service.