ATLANTA — Airlines, including Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, continued to struggle to restore operations two days after a faulty software update caused technological havoc worldwide and resulted in several carriers grounding flights.
According to the latest data from FlightAware, there were 1,461 total cancellations within, into or out of the U.S. on Sunday, with Delta and United topping the cancellations.
This included hundreds of delays and cancellations at the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Early Sunday morning, there had been 500 flight delays and over 300 cancelations.
Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian said in a message to customers Sunday that flight cancellations continued as the airline tried to recover its systems and restore operations. He noted that the pause in Delta’s operations resulted in more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection scrubbed flights. Delta has been offering waivers to affected customers.
Bastian noted that that one of their crew tracking-related tools was affected and unable to effectively process the unprecedented number of changes triggered by the system outage.
“The technology issue occurred on the busiest travel weekend of the summer, with our booked loads exceeding 90%, limiting our re-accommodation capabilities,” Bastian wrote. “I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.”
Delta also announced it will issue travel vouchers and waivers for passengers impacted by the outage as an apology for the inconvenience.
The Atlanta airport released the following statement Sunday regarding operations following the cyber outage:
ATL is working with its airline partners as their systems return to normal. Although airport-operated systems were not impacted, we are providing support to passengers and employees throughout the facility. ATL has implemented its 24-hour concessions crisis plan, ensuring every concourse has concessions available 24/7. We’ve provided assistance and guidance to passengers spending the night in the airport, and we’re collaborating with our airlines to create space for luggage reunification areas. We suggest passengers follow their airline social media and messaging apps for updates, they monitor ATL.com for parking, security, and concessions options, and they seek out green-coated ATL guest services representatives for airport-related information.