Air Travel Delays Continue Following Global Tech Outage

Delta Air Lines continues to face significant operational challenges following a global technology outage that began four days ago. The disruption, caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, has resulted in the cancellation of over 5,500 Delta flights since Friday, stranding tens of thousands of passengers. The airline's difficulties stand out as other carriers return to nearly normal levels of service.

As of Monday (July 22) morning, Delta had canceled another 700 flights .

The outage, which affected an estimated 8.5 million Windows devices worldwide, has drawn attention from the federal government. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke to Delta CEO Ed Bastian about the high number of cancellations and the airline's response to the crisis. Buttigieg emphasized the need for Delta to provide accommodations and quick refunds for affected passengers, stating, "No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent."

Delta's recovery efforts have been hampered by the timing of the outage, which occurred on the busiest travel weekend of the summer. The airline's booked loads exceeded 90%, limiting its ability to re-accommodate passengers. Delta has offered waivers to make it easier for customers to reschedule trips.

The global tech outage has also affected other sectors, including emergency communication services, banks, and schools. While CrowdStrike has deployed a fix, experts warn that it could take days or even weeks to repair every affected computer.