The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations resulting from a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers have the right to fair treatment, and he intends to uphold these rights. He mentioned that the department has received hundreds of complaints regarding Delta’s response to the outages.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming full operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday. This update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leading many corporate users to lose access to their systems and experience issues like the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had far-reaching effects on numerous industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports experienced significant disruptions; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,000 canceled, with Delta being the most affected.
Delta reported the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. Additionally, the airline canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, along with around 3,441 delays. By Tuesday, another 738 flights were either canceled or delayed, according to FlightAware.
In a statement, Delta CEO Ed Bastian emphasized that canceling flights is a last resort and apologized to those impacted by the disruptions. He acknowledged the challenges for travelers when their plans are changed unexpectedly. Bastian noted that a significant number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including tools for tracking crew operations that were hindered by the system shutdown. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.