The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld, as the airline continues to cancel flights following a recent global tech outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for all airline passengers in a statement shared on social media. He noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the tech disruptions.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, is facing challenges in resuming full operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late last week. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating system globally, leaving many corporate users without access to their systems and experiencing severe technical issues.
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline sector faced particularly severe consequences. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, with an additional 5,171 flights canceled, according to FlightAware data. Delta was significantly affected, canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, and more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, along with additional delays. On Tuesday, 738 flights were reported as either canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the situation, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort and acknowledging the impact on travelers. He highlighted that Delta relies on a substantial number of applications linked to Microsoft Windows, which contributed to the operational challenges following the outage. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights free of charge and has offered meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support.