The Department of Transportation is conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer needs following a wave of flight cancellations linked to a recent global technology outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and assured that this right will be enforced. He noted the department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation after the tech issues arose.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming its operations in the aftermath of a problematic software update executed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This update, which encountered a flaw, affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, disrupting access for many corporate users and leading to significant system errors.
The outage impacted various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline industry was particularly hard-hit. On the day following the disruption, there were over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,000 cancellations recorded by FlightAware, with Delta facing the brunt of these challenges.
Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with an additional 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with nearly 3,500 delays. As of Tuesday, FlightAware indicated that 738 flights had been either canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that they are only considered as a last resort. He acknowledged the difficulties faced by affected passengers and reiterated Delta’s commitment to facilitating global travel. The airline has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without a fee and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support to those impacted.