Delta says cancellations continue after technical outage

ATLANTA — Airlines including Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines continued to struggle to restore operations two days after a faulty software update wreaked technological havoc around the world and led several carriers to cancel flights.

According to the latest data from FlightAware, there were 1,461 total cancellations within, to and from the United States on Sunday, with Delta and United leading the cancellations.

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Hundreds of flights have been delayed and canceled at the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. As of Sunday morning, there were 500 delays and more than 300 flight cancellations.

Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian said in a message to customers Sunday that flight cancellations continue as the airline works to recover its systems and restore operations. He noted that Delta’s pause in operations has resulted in the cancellation of more than 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights. Delta has offered exemptions to affected customers.

Bastian noted that one of their crew tracking tools was affected and unable to effectively process the unprecedented number of changes triggered by the system outage.

“The technical issue occurred during the busiest weekend of the summer, with a booking rate exceeding 90%, which limited our re-hosting capabilities,” Bastian wrote. “I want to apologize to each of you who were affected by these events.”

Delta also announced that it would issue travel vouchers and waivers to passengers affected by the outage as an apology for the inconvenience.

Atlanta International Airport issued the following statement Sunday regarding operations following the computer outage:

ATL is working with our airline partners to return their systems to normal. While airport-operated systems have not been impacted, we are providing assistance to passengers and employees throughout the facility. ATL has implemented its 24-hour concessions crisis plan, ensuring that concessions are available 24/7 in every concourse. We have provided assistance and guidance to passengers staying overnight at the airport, and are working with our airlines to create space for baggage consolidation areas. We suggest passengers follow their airline’s social media and messaging apps for updates, monitor ATL.com for parking, security, and concession options, and look for ATL’s green-coated customer service representatives for airport-related information.