The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of canceled flights due to a global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a social media statement on Tuesday, mentioning that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Atlanta-based Delta has been struggling to regain normal operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected various businesses worldwide. This faulty update had a negative impact on Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and, in some cases, facing the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident caused widespread disruption across numerous industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines, however, suffered significant setbacks; on one day alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed and over 5,100 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most extensive impact.
Delta reported the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 canceled flights and another 3,441 delayed on Sunday and Monday. By Tuesday, 738 flights had also been canceled or delayed.
In response to the challenges faced by travelers, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort. He acknowledged the frustration caused by the disruptions, affirming that the airline strives to connect travelers worldwide. Bastian noted that a significant number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a key tool for crew tracking, which was unable to adapt to the outage. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.