Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, canceling over 600 flights as it continues to recover from a global software outage that resulted in widespread flight disruptions over the weekend.
This past Sunday alone, Delta canceled around 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, following more than 3,500 canceled flights between Friday and Saturday, according to data from FlightAware. By 8 a.m. ET on Monday, the airline had canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, accounting for about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines had a much lighter impact, with only 38 cancellations and 155 delays, representing about 5% of its planned flights.
The disruptions were caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems late Thursday night. This malfunction left many corporate users, including those at Delta, unable to access critical systems, leading to significant delays across various industries. The airline sector was particularly hard-hit, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,000 cancellations reported on Friday, with Delta suffering the most.
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. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He highlighted that a crucial application for tracking crew members was unable to function properly due to the systems outage. Delta has since introduced a travel waiver for customers to change their flights without penalty and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the disruptions. He emphasized that the airline must ensure affected customers receive refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for expenses such as food and hotel stays. Buttigieg added, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”