The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is properly addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations triggered by a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and pledged to uphold that right. He noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, is facing challenges in resuming its operations after a failed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday, which adversely affected multiple businesses globally. The problematic update caused disruptions in Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, affecting corporate users and resulting in a widespread connectivity issue.
The incident impacted nearly all major industries, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and financial institutions, with airlines and airports experiencing significant delays. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed, and over 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most affected airline.
Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, with over 2,500 cancellations and more than 3,400 delays on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, the airline saw 738 flights either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated on Sunday that canceling flights is always a last resort and expressed his apologies to affected travelers. He acknowledged that the airline’s operations rely heavily on various applications using Microsoft Windows, including a critical crew tracking tool that was disrupted by the outage.
To assist impacted customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver, allowing passengers to change their flights without incurring fees, and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.