The U.S. Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global technology outage that occurred last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed on social media that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the recent tech disruptions.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in returning to normal operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which took place last Thursday. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing numerous corporate users to lose access to their systems and, in some cases, encounter the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports experiencing the most significant disruptions. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed, and over 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta bearing the brunt of the cancellations.
In total, Delta canceled around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with additional cancellations exceeding 2,500 on Sunday and Monday, alongside over 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, FlightAware reported that 738 flights had been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone impacted 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.”
Bastian indicated that Delta relies on a considerable number of applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that was unable to adapt to the system failure. To assist affected customers, Delta has offered a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, as well as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.