Delta Air Lines faced significant operational challenges on Monday, having to cancel hundreds of flights as the airline continued to recover from a global software outage that had already caused extensive delays and cancellations over the weekend.
The Atlanta-based airline canceled 1,300 flights on Sunday and saw 1,600 delays, based on data from FlightAware. In total, Delta had previously scrapped more than 3,500 flights across Delta and Delta Connection from Friday to Saturday.
As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta reported 626 flight cancellations and 144 delays, which accounted for about 20% of its planned operations for the day. In contrast, American Airlines had only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, roughly 5% of its schedule.
The disruptions for Delta originated from a faulty software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. This problematic update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, preventing corporate users from accessing crucial systems and leading some to experience the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline industry was particularly hard hit. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, with Delta being the most severely affected airline.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions in a statement, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort and not taken lightly. He apologized to all customers affected, acknowledging the difficulties of disrupted travel.
Bastian noted that a significant number of Delta’s applications utilize Microsoft Windows, including tools for tracking crew logistics, which were disrupted during the system failure. In response to the situation, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without extra charges, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s management of the outages. He insisted that Delta must ensure refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for customers’ food and lodging expenses.
Buttigieg emphasized that no customer should have to endure being stranded at an airport overnight or face long waits to connect with customer service.