The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns amid ongoing flight cancellations stemming from last week’s global tech outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating on social media that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta Air Lines, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming normal operations following a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users without access to crucial systems and encountering widespread issues, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident disrupted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports were particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, and more than 5,171 were canceled, with Delta bearing the brunt of the impact.
The airline reported approximately 3,500 flight cancellations on both Friday and Saturday. FlightAware data indicates that Delta canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday and delayed an additional 3,441 flights. By Tuesday, 738 flights had already been either canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He extended his apologies to all affected travelers, emphasizing Delta’s mission to connect the world and recognizing the difficulties caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on numerous applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a critical tool for tracking crew assignments, which was unable to cope with the changes due to the system shutdown. In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.