ATLANTA — Delays and cancellations have extended into this week for Delta Air Lines, with the company still trying to fully recover operationally from Friday's worldwide computer systems outage.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines has been particularly hard-hit by the disruptions from Friday, and delays within its global network continued over the weekend and Monday. That has meant long lines and scrambled travel itineraries at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
RELATED: Delta Air Lines says cancellations continue as it tries to restore operations after tech outage
Here's a look at the latest:
Delta flight delays & cancellations updates | Tuesday, July 23
- BREAKING: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg posted on X that the U.S. Department of Transportation has opened an investigation into Delta "to ensure the airline is following the law and taking care of its passengers during continued widespread disruptions." The secretary added: "All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld."
- Total cancellations: According to Associated Press reporting, Delta has canceled more than 5,500 since Friday.
- Tuesday's data: As of 10:30 a.m. the tracking site FlightAware reports 350 delays at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and 211 total cancelations into or out of Atlanta. The overwhelming bulk of the cancellations, 203, are Delta flights. More flights inbound for Atlanta (124) have so far been canceled than Atlanta outbound flights (85).
- Monday's data: At 10 p.m. Monday, Delta was still feeling the effects of the CrowdStrike outage. FlightAware reported that the total delays for Monday at Hartsfield-Jackson climbed to 1,174, while total cancellations into or out of the airport reached 489. More inbound flights were cancelled, but more outbound flights were delayed.
- Delta working around the clock: Delta is extending a travel waiver once again. In a 2:30 p.m. update Monday, the airline said the extension for customers is for travel booked from July 19-July 23. Customers can make a one-time change to their itinerary. Delta said upward of half its IT systems worldwide are Windows based. The issue with CrowdStrike caused the airline to have to manually repair and reboot each affected systems, the company said in a news release. One of its most crucial systems that ensures flights have crews are in the right place at the right time is requiring the most time. “We’ve got everyone around the company working around the clock to get this operation where it needs to be,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a video message to employees. “Keep taking great care of our customers and each other in the coming days.” Learn more about what the airline is offering travelers here.
- Delta's response: The airline issued a new release on Sunday outlining steps the company is taking to remedy travel woes. Travel waivers have been extended so far for all flights booked from July 19-21, and Delta says it is covering eligible expenses for stranded travelers including meal vouchers, hotel accommodations and ground transportations. Customers also have a right to request a refund if they cancel their bookings at delta.com/refund.
- What you can do: Right now, if you're among the Delta customers stuck in limbo and still trying to make a flight, all you can really do is monitor and manage/change your itinerary through Delta's website or the Fly Delta app. Those systems, of course, have also been overwhelmed in part by the many travelers trying to access them, Delta said its platforms have been "inundated with traffic, causing intermittent performance challenges" and "Delta teams are working to stabilize those tools."
- Reaction: Delta has drawn the scrutiny of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who wrote on X late Sunday night that, "We have received reports of continued disruptions and unacceptable customer service conditions at Delta Air Lines, including hundreds of complaints filed with @USDOT. I have made clear to Delta that we will hold them to all applicable passenger protections." The secretary continued by saying Delta must "provide prompt refunds to consumers who choose not to take rebooking, free rebooking for those who do, and timely reimbursements for food and hotel stays to consumers affected by these delays and cancellations, as well as adequate customer service assistance." Buttigieg directs customers to this website for air travel complaints to federal regulators.
- Traveler reaction: Numerous people on social media have posted their frustrations with Delta. Customers have reported being stranded at Atlanta's airport, severe difficulties with getting their situations resolved and the airport has been hugely crowded for several days with stranded flyers. Former Georgia state Rep. Bee Nguyen also had some useful advice for flyers on X: