The Department of Transportation is currently looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure it complies with consumer rights as the airline faces ongoing flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating on social media that his department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, is still working to restore its operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which took place last Thursday. This update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate clients without access to their systems, and in certain cases, facing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted various industries, including healthcare, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced the worst disruptions. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 flights were canceled, as reported by FlightAware, with Delta suffering the most extensive disruptions.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. Following that, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed an additional 3,441 on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, an additional 738 flights faced cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian explained that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for numerous applications, including tools for crew tracking that struggled to handle changes from the system outage. To address the inconvenience, Delta has implemented a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights at no additional cost, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.