Delta Warns Of More Flight Delays, Cancellations Following Computer Outage

DALLAS (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Tens of thousands of Delta passengers are hoping to get where they need to go Tuesday, a day after a computer outage resulted in their flights being scrubbed.

In a statement on its website, Delta officials said the airline is "still operating in recovery mode." The airline canceled around 500 flights Tuesday and is warning passengers to expect continued delays and cancellations.

The cancellations Tuesday follow about 1,000 cancelled flights Monday and almost 3,000 delayed flights after an outage at its Atlanta headquarters initiated a global meltdown of it booking and communications systems.

CBS2's Ali Bauman reported passengers were losing their patience at the Delta terminal at LaGuardia Airport Tuesday.

"Just trying to be patient," Stephanie Heath said. "No succeeding."

A Delta spokesperson said computer systems are back up and running, but slowly and with instability.

"I'm heading to JFK so I can get out," Beverly Wright said. "Today's my daughter's birthday, so I'm taking a taxi to get there."

According to Delta's Chief Operating Officer Gil West, when power control at their technology command center crashed, the "critical systems and network equipment didn't switch over to backups."

The FAA assured fliers this is not a safety issue, but it is causing more cancellations as the airline tries to play catch-up.

"You show up, you think you're going to be getting your boarding pass and getting on the plane and they're like you're grounded," passenger Angela Goff said Monday.

The airline was back online after a number of hours Monday, but the outages were so widespread that it is still dealing with the ripple effects a day later.

The airline posted a video apology by CEO Ed Bastian.

It is also offering refunds and $200 in travel vouchers to people whose flights were canceled or delayed at least three hours.

Delta's network outages raises questions about the reliability of computer systems used by airlines -- which are not regulated by the FAA, CBS' Kris Van Cleave reported.

Last year, United and American Airlines both suffered computer problems. In July, a faulty router forced Southwest Airlines to ground flights -- a disruption that lasted days.

"They're running on a reservation system that is more than 35 years old," Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst, said.

Airlines now rely on computers to handle pretty much everything from reservations to seat assignments -- to how much fuel and snacks to load on a plane.

Harteveldt says Delta has been rebuilding its core technologues for more than six months. The airline industry generally has reliable systems, but portions can be decades old.

"Airlines are technology companies that fly airplanes. Their technology systems have to be as reliable as their aircraft," Harteveldt said.

The Department of Transportation told CBS News it is having discussions with Delta about the outage and continues to monitor the situation.

Delta is unable to estimate a time or date when flight schedules should be back to normal. The company is advising passengers to check the status of their flight online or by using the Delta app.

"Can't find any flight status and then there's a two-hour wait on the phone," Michelle Harris said.

Some Delta passengers are able to change their flights without a fee even if it is not canceled, as long as they do it by Friday.

CBS2 asked Delta how old their computer systems are. They said they were unable to give an answer, as it is part of their investigation into the outages.

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