Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continues to recover from a global software outage that caused significant disruptions over the weekend.
The Atlanta-based airline saw the cancellation of 1,300 flights and 1,600 delays on Sunday, with more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights grounded on Friday and Saturday, according to FlightAware data. As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, which represents about 20% of its planned operations. In comparison, American Airlines canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, amounting to about 5% of its scheduled flights.
The complications for Delta were caused by a faulty software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. This flaw negatively impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving numerous corporate users unable to access essential systems and, in some cases, facing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident affected nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline industry suffered considerably. Over 46,000 flights were delayed and over 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, with Delta experiencing the most interruptions.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology for the disruptions, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort for the airline. He noted that Delta’s reliance on Microsoft Windows applications contributed to the issue, particularly a tool used for tracking crew schedules that could not process changes due to the software problems. To assist affected customers, Delta has initiated a travel waiver allowing free changes to flight bookings and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reported receiving “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the situation. He stressed that the airline must offer refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for food and lodging expenses to those affected.
“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.