Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline struggled to recover from a global software outage that grounded flights over the weekend.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to FlightAware. The airline had already scrapped more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights between Friday and Saturday. By Monday morning, Delta reported 626 canceled flights and 144 delays, constituting about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines only canceled 38 flights and delayed 155, equating to approximately 5% of its planned flights.
The difficulties for Delta arose from a faulty software update implemented by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike late Thursday night, which adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This defect left numerous corporate users without system access and caused issues such as the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread implications, impacting numerous sectors including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports experiencing the most severe effects. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, with Delta being particularly hard-hit.
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 emphasized that Delta aims to connect the world and understands the challenges that arise from travel disruptions.
He also noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many applications, including those necessary for crew tracking, which were unable to operate due to the outage. To assist affected customers, Delta is offering a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, alongside meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation services.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that his department received numerous complaints about Delta’s management of the situation, stating that the airline must ensure refunds, free rebooking, and prompt reimbursements for additional expenses incurred by affected passengers. “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent,” he insisted.