Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as it continues to recover from a global software outage that caused widespread delays and cancellations over the weekend.
The Atlanta-based airline canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed about 1,600 on Sunday, with the total number of canceled flights between Friday and Saturday exceeding 3,500, according to FlightAware. By Monday morning, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, marking about 20% of its planned operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 flight cancellations and 155 delays, about 5% of its scheduled flights.
The problems at Delta originated from a flawed software update conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday, which affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This update left many corporate users, including Delta, unable to access their systems, leading to operational challenges, such as the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a ripple effect across various sectors, impacting healthcare providers, delivery services, retail businesses, and financial institutions, with airlines and airports particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, and another 5,171 were canceled, with Delta suffering the most significant impact.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone affected by these events.” He explained that Delta relies on numerous applications using Microsoft Windows, including essential tools for crew tracking that failed due to the outage. As a response, Delta has provided a travel waiver to allow customers to change flights without charge, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, mentioning that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta is obligated to provide refunds, free rebooking options, and timely reimbursements for food and lodging to customers affected by the disruptions. “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.