Delta Air Lines has canceled hundreds of flights on Monday as the airline continues to face challenges in recovering from a global software outage that disrupted operations for three consecutive days.
The Atlanta-based airline reported that it canceled 1,300 flights and delayed another 1,600 on Sunday, according to FlightAware. The situation escalated over the weekend, with Delta and its regional partners canceling over 3,500 flights from Friday to Saturday.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for approximately 20% of its scheduled operations. In comparison, American Airlines only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, which represents about 5% of its planned flights.
The outage was linked to a faulty software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday night, which adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. Numerous corporate users experienced significant disruptions, including crashes leading to the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The ramifications of the outage rippled through various industries, severely impacting healthcare providers, delivery services, retail, and financial sectors, with airlines and airports experiencing significant delays. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and more than 5,171 were canceled, with Delta suffering the most.
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 every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” Bastian added that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including a system for tracking flight crews, which was unable to adapt to the sudden shutdown.
To assist affected travelers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced on social media that the department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions. Buttigieg emphasized that Delta must provide refunds, free rebooking options, and prompt reimbursements for food and lodging for 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.