The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer issues following a series of flight cancellations linked to a recent global tech outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating on social media, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He highlighted the department’s receipt of “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the technical difficulties.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has encountered challenges in restoring operations after a software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread disruptions last Thursday. This update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to their systems and, in some situations, encountering significant system errors.
The incident had a ripple effect across numerous sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports among the hardest hit. Data from FlightAware reported that over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 flights canceled on Friday alone, with Delta facing the most significant impact.
Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights over the weekend, with an additional 2,500 flights canceled on Sunday and Monday, along with 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, the airline had already faced 738 more cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, 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.” He explained that Delta relies on numerous applications that require Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking, which struggled to adapt to the system failures. In response, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without charge, as well as offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.