Delta Continues Flight Cancellations Days After Global IT Outage, Amounting to $163 Million Loss

By Thea Felicity

Jul 23 2024, 11:03 AM EDT

Delta Airlines passengers line up for agent assistance at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on July 22, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Delta Airlines cancelled over 700 flights on Monday due to the Crowdstrike software update, making up more than half of the flight cancellations in the U.S. Jessica McGowan/Getty Images

Delta Air Lines continue to face severe flight disruptions, extending what began as a global tech outage into its fifth consecutive day. CNN reported that the airline canceled hundreds of flights early Tuesday, July 23, adding to the more than 6,000 flights grounded since the issue first emerged.

Delta's troubles stem from a software update released by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which crashed critical Windows systems and triggered a cascade of problems across the airline industry, as per VCPost. While there are efforts to rectify the situation, Delta's ongoing difficulties with its crew tracking system left the airline unable to locate and deploy its staff effectively.

Delta Air Lines Flight Cancellations

As of early Tuesday, CNN revealed that Delta had canceled 383 flights, with its regional carrier, Endeavor Air, contributing an additional 18 cancellations. This follows a staggering 1,250 flight cancellations on Monday alone, and a cumulative 4,500 flights from Friday through Sunday.

The airline's inability to stabilize its operations has left tens of thousands of passengers stranded, many of whom have been forced to sleep in airports or wait for hours on end for assistance. Delta's crew members are also affected, with many finding themselves stuck in airports away from their bases, unable to be assigned to flights or secure hotel accommodations.

The financial toll of the ongoing disruption is estimated to cost Delta at around $163 million as of Monday, July 22. This figure includes lost revenue and is expected to climb further as the airline continues to address additional costs related to staff pay and customer reimbursements.

Efforts to manage the situation have also revealed issues with baggage handling. Delta has been working to reunite passengers with their lost belongings, but this process is expected to take several more days.

Despite ongoing challenges, Delta remains optimistic about resolving the issues. The airline's Chief Information Officer Rahul Samant and CEO Ed Bastian have assured employees and customers that they are working "feverishly" to improve the situation.