The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that it is adequately addressing consumer concerns, as the airline continues to cancel flights following a significant global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the rights of airline passengers in a social media statement on Tuesday, reaffirming his commitment to safeguarding those rights. He mentioned that the department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation linked to the tech outages.
Based in Atlanta, Delta has faced operational challenges after a software update failure by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike last Thursday impacted businesses globally. A flaw in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users losing access to their systems, with some confronting the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident affected nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports experiencing some of the most significant disruptions. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most impacted.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights during Friday and Saturday, followed by an additional more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, there were also 738 cancellations or delays reported.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian addressed the situation in a statement on Sunday, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone affected by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand the difficulties when travel plans are disrupted.”
Bastian noted that Delta relies on a wide range of applications that use Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that was unable to cope with the operational changes following the system outage. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing flight changes without fees, alongside offers of meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.