The Department of Transportation is currently examining Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns amid ongoing flight cancellations triggered by a global tech outage last week.
This marks a challenging period for Delta, which has been grappling with operational disruptions following a faulty software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This update, deployed last Thursday, adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in significant challenges for corporate users who experienced issues ranging from inaccessibility to system crashes, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread repercussions across nearly all major industries, impacting healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions. The airline sector faced particularly severe consequences; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the greatest setbacks.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with more than 2,500 cancellations occurring on Sunday and Monday, and an additional 3,441 flights delayed. As of Tuesday, FlightAware indicated that 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the difficulty of these changes in a statement over the weekend. “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 how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted,” he stated.
Bastian explained that a significant number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial tool for crew tracking that was unable to process necessary adjustments due to the system failure. In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flight plans without charge, alongside providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.