Delta Air Lines is under investigation by the Department of Transportation to ensure it is meeting consumer protection standards following a series of flight cancellations linked to a recent global tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers are entitled to fair treatment and emphasized his commitment to uphold this right. He noted that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the recent disruptions.
The Atlanta-based airline has encountered difficulties in fully resuming operations days after a flawed software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike affected numerous businesses globally. The update led to issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, which caused significant access problems for many corporate users, resulting in the so-called “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage impacted nearly every major industry, with healthcare, delivery services, retail, and financial institutions all feeling the effects, but airlines and airports faced particularly severe disruptions. According to FlightAware, on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and an additional 5,171 were canceled, with Delta experiencing the most severe impact.
Delta reported approximately 3,500 flight cancellations across its operations on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday and Monday, more than 2,500 further cancellations occurred, alongside 3,441 delays. On Tuesday alone, FlightAware recorded 738 canceled or delayed flights for the airline.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the challenging situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort and something we don’t take lightly.” He expressed sincere apologies to affected customers and reiterated Delta’s mission of connecting the world, recognizing the frustration caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian explained that a substantial number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a tool for tracking crew schedules that was rendered inoperative due to the shutdown. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no additional cost and provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.