The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is properly addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made a statement on social media, asserting that every airline passenger deserves fair treatment and reaffirming his commitment to uphold that right. He noted that the department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the tech problems.
Delta, based in Atlanta, continues to face challenges in restoring its operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted businesses globally. This flawed update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users unable to access their systems and, in some cases, experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage had widespread effects across various industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline sector experienced particularly severe disruptions. On Friday alone, there were over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations, according to FlightAware, with Delta suffering the most.
The airline reported approximately 3,500 flight cancellations on Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, FlightAware indicated that there were already 738 cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort. He acknowledged the inconvenience caused and offered an apology to those affected. Bastian explained that a considerable number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that couldn’t handle the changes due to the system failure. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver that allows free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.