The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations related to a global technology outage last week.
Pete Buttigieg, the Secretary of Transportation, emphasized in a social media statement that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will ensure that this right is maintained.” He noted that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the technical issues.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring its operations after a faulty software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted various businesses globally. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to critical systems and dealing with the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had far-reaching consequences, impacting numerous industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines endured significant setbacks as well, with more than 46,000 flight delays and over 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta was particularly affected.
In total, Delta cancelled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, with another 2,500 cancellations reported on Sunday and Monday, along with over 3,400 delays. By Tuesday, 738 flights had also been cancelled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, 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 strives to connect the world, and we understand how challenging it is when travel plans are disrupted.”
Bastian indicated that Delta relies on many applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that was unable to adapt to the system outage. In response to the disruptions, Delta announced a travel waiver allowing customers to modify their flights without charge, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.