Delta CEO Addresses Mass Cancelations in Memo Before Flying to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics

Delta's CEO Ed Bastian is speaking retired aft thousands of formation cancelations near passengers stranded, delayed, and without luggage.

In a memo early Wednesday morning, Bastian told customers that he was hopeful nan worst was complete and systems should beryllium up and moving aft past week's CrowdStrike outage that affected 1 of Delta's cardinal unit tracking-related tools. Bastian besides said successful nan memo that he's publication customers' disappointment emails and apologized to those impacted.

Related: Delta Is Now Under Investigation arsenic nan Airline Continues to Cancel Flights After Mass Outage: 'Lost a Customer for Life'

"While our first efforts to stabilize nan operations were difficult and frustratingly slow and complex, we person made bully advancement this week and nan worst impacts of nan CrowdStrike-caused outage are intelligibly down us," Bastian wrote. "We expect cancellations Wednesday to beryllium minimal. Thursday is expected to beryllium a normal day, pinch nan hose afloat recovered and operating astatine a accepted level of reliability."

As of Wednesday afternoon, Delta had canceled 41 flights — conscionable 1% of its full flights for nan time — and delayed 513. In comparison, connected Tuesday, nan hose had canceled 511 flights and delayed a whopping 1,685.

On Wednesday, nan aforesaid time his memo was released, Bastian arrived successful Paris up of nan 2024 Summer Olympics, wherever Delta is nan charismatic hose for Team USA.

"Ed delayed this long-planned business travel until he was assured nan hose was firmly connected nan way to recovery," Delta told CNN successful a statement. "As of Wednesday morning, Delta's operations were returning to normal. Ed remains afloat engaged pinch elder operations leaders."

Related: CrowdStrike CEO Responds to Its Update Largest IT Outage successful History

The hose said it has continued to supply affected customers pinch meals, accommodations, and crushed carrier successful summation to vouchers, reimbursements, and SkyMiles.

Delta was down complete 9% twelvemonth complete twelvemonth arsenic of Wednesday afternoon.