Delta Air Lines Flight Cancellations
Delta Air Lines had to cancel more than 600 flights on Monday following a global software outage that disrupted its operations for the third consecutive day. This setback occurred despite Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s public call for better customer service from the airline.
Impact of the Outage
Over the weekend, Delta canceled around 1,300 flights on both Saturday and Sunday, accounting for approximately a third of its scheduled flights each day. The cancellations on Monday, totaling 607 flights by 7 a.m. ET, represented about 16 percent of its planned departures.
Response and Apology
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology to affected customers, emphasizing that flight cancellations are always a last resort. The airline offered travel waivers, allowing affected passengers to change their flights for free and providing assistance such as meal vouchers, hotel accommodation, and transportation where possible.
Government Intervention
Transportation Secretary Buttigieg highlighted the importance of prompt refunds for customers who choose not to rebook their flights and timely reimbursements for expenses incurred due to delays. The Department of Transportation received numerous complaints about Delta’s handling of the situation and urged passengers to report any inadequate service to the agency.
Industry Response
The software outage, caused by a flawed update from CrowdStrike, impacted several airlines, including Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines. While other carriers managed to stabilize their operations relatively quickly, Delta faced challenges in restoring its flights to normal schedules.
Initially, airlines viewed the outage as beyond their control, offering free rebookings as the main form of compensation. However, the Department of Transportation clarified that such incidents are within airlines’ responsibility, requiring them to provide compensation to affected passengers for flight disruptions.
