Why is my Sunday flight cancelled? Delta and United struggle to recover

Get more news like this delivered to your inbox by Sign up for our Travel Newsletter here.

As airlines continue to deal with the aftermath of Friday’s global computer outage, thousands of flights have been cancelled or delayed.

According to flight tracking site FlightAware, more than 1,000 flights have been canceled and more than 2,300 delays have been recorded as of 11 a.m. ET Sunday. Delta and United Airlines have been the hardest hit, with 539 and 254 cancellations, respectively, so far. Delta’s wholly-owned regional subsidiary Endeavor Air has also seen significant cancellations.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), several U.S. carriers, including American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, grounded all flights early Friday due to communications issues, causing a domino effect that continued through Sunday.

Airlines rely on complex systems: Why the CrowdStrike glitch could cause days of chaos

Cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike blamed the global technology outage on a flaw in a Microsoft Windows host update.

“Today is not a security incident or a cyber incident. Our customers remain fully protected,” Crowdstrike CEO George Kurtz said Friday on X.

The airline industry has been particularly hard hit because of its schedule sensitivity. Airlines rely on a tightly coordinated schedule, often managed by air traffic control. A delay of just a few minutes can disrupt an airport’s and an airline’s takeoff and landing schedule for the rest of the day.

Are flights still grounded? How long will flight delays last?

The FAA will issue ground stops and other precautionary flight control measures if necessary, but most of Sunday’s cancellations and delays will likely be caused by airline crews and equipment that are out of place.

“The airline industry is very sparsely populated with airplanes. Once they’re not in place, they can’t do their normal schedule because their airplanes aren’t in place to do their route,” Jon Haass, a professor of cyber intelligence and security at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, told USA TODAY Saturday. “It’s not just a software program anymore; it’s a complete system.”

Travelers are advised to contact their airlines and check the FAA website for the latest information.

How to find the reason for a flight delay

Customers can ask airlines why their flights are canceled or delayed, but the Department of Transportation confirmed that it considers the delays and cancellations caused by Friday’s computer outage to be “controllable” by the airlines. Even if airlines can claim they did not cause the computer error, that means the DOT will hold them accountable for honoring commitments they made to customers on policies like rebooking or hotel and meal vouchers once the problem is resolved. Each airline’s policy is outlined on the DOT’s customer service dashboard.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics also tracks the causes of delays and cancellations.

Airline exemptions

Airlines are doing what they can to offer additional flexibility to those affected by the outage.

Delta said in a statement that it was “continuing its operational recovery on Saturday” and issued an exemption allowing all passengers traveling on Friday to rebook their flights.
United United has issued a waiver for certain airports so passengers can make changes if their flights are affected, though a United spokesperson told USA TODAY that nearly all of the airline’s flights depart from or arrive at one of the airports covered by the waiver.
Spirit issued a waiver allowing customers who booked a Friday or Saturday flight through any airport in its network to change their flight without additional costs.

What happens if my flight is cancelled?

Department for Transportation rules require all airlines to offer customers a refund if their flights are cancelled for any reason, but customers may be entitled to additional compensation if a cancellation is within the airline’s control.

What should I do if my flight is delayed?

If your flight is significantly delayed, the Department of Transportation suggests you ask airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room.

The DOT dashboard reflects official airline policies, but many carriers handle delay compensation on a case-by-case basis and may provide vouchers or other benefits in certain situations that are not officially covered.

What is considered a significant flight delay?

Each airline defines significant delays differently, but the DOT dashboard identifies airlines that offer compensation for controllable delays of 3 hours or more.

For example, all major U.S. carriers are required to provide a meal voucher for flights delayed by at least 3 hours for reasons beyond their control. Additionally, Alaska, JetBlue and Southwest offer a travel credit or voucher when a controllable delay “results in a passenger waiting 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time,” according to the dashboard.

How to claim compensation for a delayed flight

Travelers seeking financial compensation for a delayed flight should file a claim with their respective airline. Passengers seeking other types of compensation, such as frequent flyer miles, can request them from the airline’s customer service department.