The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that it is adequately meeting consumer needs, following a series of flight cancellations linked to a recent global technology outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg remarked on social media that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will ensure that right is upheld.” This statement comes after the department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the tech issues.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has faced difficulties in fully resuming normal operations after a malfunctioning software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted various businesses worldwide. The update caused a defect that affected Microsoft Windows operating systems, leading to significant access issues for corporate users.
The outage impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports experienced particularly severe disruptions, with FlightAware reporting over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations on a single day. Delta was notably the most affected carrier.
The airline canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, and subsequent cancellations continued with more than 2,500 flights canceled and 3,441 delays reported on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday alone, Delta had already canceled or delayed 738 additional flights.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret in a statement, saying, “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.” Bastian explained that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including a tool for tracking crew schedules that was rendered inoperative due to the system failure. To alleviate customer concerns, Delta announced a travel waiver policy allowing passengers to change their flights at no charge, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation services.