The 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 tech outage experienced last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers are entitled to fair treatment and vowed to uphold this right. He noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring its operations after a failed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without system access and some experiencing significant errors.
The tech incident impacted numerous industries, with airlines and airports among the hardest hit. On the day following the outage, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, while 5,171 flights were canceled, with Delta being particularly affected.
On Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled around 3,500 flights. Over the following days, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had also been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated that canceling flights is a last resort and expressed regret for the disruptions caused. He acknowledged the airline’s reliance on Microsoft Windows for a number of applications, including a crucial tool for crew tracking, which was affected by the system issues. Delta is offering a travel waiver to allow customers to change their flights at no cost, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.