The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns in light of the flight cancellations that followed a recent global technology outage. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for all airline passengers, highlighting that his department has received a significant number of complaints regarding Delta’s response to the situation.
Delta has faced challenges in its operations following a compromised software update carried out by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last week. This update led to a widespread disruption affecting numerous industries worldwide, including healthcare, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports experienced notable impacts, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,000 canceled just on the day after the outage.
Specifically, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 additional cancellations and thousands of delays over the subsequent days, as reported by FlightAware. As of Tuesday, another 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
In response, Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed his regret for the disruptions and emphasized that canceling flights is not taken lightly. He noted that the airline’s operations rely heavily on Microsoft Windows applications for various tasks, including crew tracking, which were hindered by the system disruption. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver that allows for free flight changes and is also providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
This situation highlights the critical nature of technology in the airline industry and the potential ripple effects that disturbances can create. While the investigation progresses, it is important for consumers to remain informed and take advantage of the support options being offered by Delta during this challenging time.
Ultimately, it is hoped that both Delta and other airlines will learn from this experience to improve technology resilience and customer service in the future, ensuring that similar incidents can be managed more effectively.