The U.S. Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns after numerous flight cancellations due to a recent global technology failure.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, adding that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges resuming normal operations following a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday. This update caused issues for Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The fallout impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare providers, delivery services, retail, and financial sectors, but airlines and airports suffered the most. On a single day, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with more than 5,171 cancellations reported by FlightAware. Delta was particularly hard hit.
The airline cancelled around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. By Sunday and Monday, Delta had scrapped more than 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441. As of Tuesday, there have been 738 additional cancellations or delays.
“Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly,” stated Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “I want to apologize to everyone affected by these events. Delta is dedicated to connecting the world, and we recognize the challenges posed by travel disruptions.”
Bastian highlighted that Delta relies on numerous applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking, which was unable to adapt due to the system shutdown. To assist affected customers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with provisions for meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.