New York – Major airlines, such as Delta Air Lines, are still grappling with the aftermath of a faulty software update that led to widespread technological disruptions and the grounding of multiple flights. The chaos caused by the technical glitch has left airlines struggling to restore normal operations, impacting travelers worldwide.
According to data from FlightAware, a total of 1,461 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. were cancelled on Sunday, with Delta and United Airlines facing the highest number of cancellations. Delta’s Chief Executive, Ed Bastian, acknowledged the ongoing challenges in a message to customers, revealing that over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights had to be cancelled as the airline works to recover its systems and resume operations. To assist affected passengers, Delta has been offering waivers for rebooking.
Bastian explained that one of the tools used to track crew members was affected by the software issue, making it difficult to manage the unprecedented volume of changes caused by the outage. The timing of the technological problem during the peak summer travel weekend, with bookings exceeding 90%, further complicated Delta’s ability to reschedule impacted flights.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg engaged with Bastian to address the high number of cancellations since the technical failure occurred. The Department of Transportation emphasized that Delta must fulfill its obligation to provide refunds to passengers who opt not to be rebooked on later flights. Buttigieg underscored the importance of prompt refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for affected passengers, as well as the necessity for excellent customer service support during the disruptions.
Buttigieg emphasized the need to prevent passengers from being stranded overnight at airports or spending hours on hold waiting for assistance. The Department of Transportation pledged to ensure that Delta passengers receive all the necessary protections afforded to them during this challenging time. The airline is expected to comply with regulations to support its customers through the disruptions.
