The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that it is adequately addressing consumer concerns, as the airline continues to face flight cancellations following a global tech outage that occurred last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers are entitled to fair treatment and stated he will ensure that these rights are upheld. He mentioned that the department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to fully resume its operations after a software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike went awry late Thursday, impacting businesses worldwide. This update contained a defect that affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving numerous corporate users without access to their systems and, in some cases, confronting the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports feeling the brunt of the disruption. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and an additional 5,171 were canceled, as reported by FlightAware. Delta experienced the most significant impact.
Delta announced that it canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. The airline canceled over 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441 on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, 738 flights have already faced cancellations or delays.
Delta’s 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 everyone who has been affected 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 further noted that Delta relies on a considerable number of applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that failed to adapt to changes caused by the system outage. In response, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights for free, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.