Flights Still Canceled Days After Microsoft Outage
Delta Airlines canceled flights for the third consecutive day on Monday due to a global software outage that affected Microsoft’s systems worldwide. This outage, which was linked to a faulty update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, also disrupted operations for shipping and logistics companies, retailers, and banks.
The Fallout for Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian stated in an open letter that the airline had to suspend flights after a power outage on Friday. This led to the cancellation of 3,500 flights on Saturday and continued disruptions on Sunday, coinciding with one of the busiest travel weekends of the summer.
Continued Disruptions and Recovery Efforts
While most other airlines had largely recovered from software outages by Monday, Delta Air Lines faced an additional 1,120 canceled or delayed flights within the United States. This was in contrast to United Airlines, which only had 17 cancellations and 112 delays. Bastian explained that many of Delta’s applications run on Microsoft Windows, compounding the issues caused by the CrowdStrike problem. Despite these challenges, Delta’s teams were working tirelessly to restore full functionality.
Additionally, Bastian announced that Delta would provide travel exemptions to affected passengers, allowing them to change itineraries and rebook flights at no extra cost.
Response from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg criticized Delta Air Lines for its handling of the situation, describing the treatment of customers during the disruption as “unacceptable.” He emphasized the need for Delta to comply with all applicable passenger protection measures, ensuring prompt refunds for consumers who choose not to rebook and offering free rebooking for those who opt to reschedule their flights. Buttigieg also called for reimbursement of expenses incurred due to delays and cancellations, along with improved customer service assistance.
Overall, the aftermath of the Microsoft outage continues to impact Delta Air Lines and its passengers, highlighting the need for effective crisis management and customer support in times of disruption.
