Delta: More delays, cancellations expected Tuesday
Delta Air Lines passengers should brace for another day of cancelations and delays Tuesday.
Snacks left out for stranded Delta passengers. Hundreds trying to rebook cancelled flights. #fox5atl @GoodDayAtlanta pic.twitter.com/CmfIuVx7WB
— Marc Teichner (@mteichnerfox5) August 9, 2016
Delta canceled about 1,000 flights and had 2,900 others delayed, some for hours, after a power outage Monday at its Atlanta headquarters caused many computer systems to crash.
In Atlanta, the self-service check-in kiosks at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport failed, forcing passengers to check in at Delta counters. The computer systems were working again a few hours later but Delta said it was still working to accommodate stranded passengers.
Late Monday night, Delta said they expect more than 250 flight cancelations Tuesday morning as they continue to recover. The airline said they anticipate about 200 delays affecting morning departures Tuesday.
Its challenge Tuesday will be to find enough seats on planes during the busy summer vacation season to accommodate the tens of thousands of passengers whose flights were scrubbed. Last month, the average Delta flight was 87 percent full.
“We’re sorry for what customers are experiencing as we work to get our operation back on track,” said Gil West, Delta’s Chief Operating Officer.
The airline posted a video apology by CEO Ed Bastian. And it offered refunds and $200 in travel vouchers to people whose flights were canceled or delayed at least three hours.
A couple who just got married Saturday was headed on their honeymoon when they said their flight was delayed several times and eventually canceled.
“Waited about an hour something in the plane and they said alright everybody out flight is canceled,” said newlywed Nehemiah Ray.
Ray said the cruise line told him it was Delta’s fault and there was nothing they could do to help them.
“We just trust God that somehow thing will get worked out,” said Jiimmilia Ray.
Delta said it would allow passengers on any flight Monday to change their travel arrangements one time without paying a fee. For the latest Delta updates, click here.
Delta offering refunds to passengers with cancelled or significantly delayed flights. #fox5atl @GoodDayAtlanta pic.twitter.com/vGsrlDii8M
— Marc Teichner (@mteichnerfox5) August 8, 2016
The first word of the problem came early Monday morning from Delta’s Twitter account.
Due to a computer outage, flights awaiting departure are currently delayed. Flights enroute are operating normally.
— Delta News Hub (@DeltaNewsHub) August 8, 2016
Lines at the check-in desks in Atlanta and other airports around the country grew long during the computer outage.
Lines getting long at Delta check-in. Computer error shuts down self serve kiosks. #fox5atl @GoodDayAtlanta pic.twitter.com/eKLRqJzs5J
— Marc Teichner (@mteichnerfox5) August 8, 2016
Because of the outage, all Delta flights scheduled for departure were delayed. The airline said flights that were already in the air when the problem began were operating normally.
Delta self check-in kiosks down, forcing everyone to use a representative, lines building. #fox5atl @GoodDayAtlanta pic.twitter.com/BJopgKUqdb
— Marc Teichner (@mteichnerfox5) August 8, 2016
Atlanta-based Delta is the largest carrier at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
