Delta Air Lines, the second-largest airline in the world, is still grappling with flight disruptions caused by a technology issue that began over the weekend. The airline has canceled over 6,000 flights since Friday due to a problem with its crew tracking software.
The root cause of the issue was identified as a faulty Windows update from CrowdStrike, which affected up to half of Delta's IT systems worldwide. The update caused significant delays and cancellations for Delta passengers, leaving many stranded at airports or forced to change their travel plans.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian apologized for the inconvenience and assured customers that the airline is working around the clock to resolve the issue. He also offered travel vouchers, waivers, and SkyMiles Program miles as compensation for affected passengers.
The disruption has caused long lines at airports, with some passengers spending nights in airport hotels without vouchers. The US Department of Transportation has received hundreds of complaints about Delta's high number of cancellations and delays since Friday. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke to Delta CEO Ed Bastian on Sunday about the situation and expressed his concern for affected travelers.
Delta is not alone in experiencing technology issues. Other airlines, including United Airlines, American Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Frontier Airlines have also reported disruptions due to the global tech outage caused by CrowdStrike's software update.
The incident highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures for critical infrastructure such as airline IT systems. Delta is working to restore its operations and get back on track as soon as possible.