The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure it is adequately addressing consumer needs following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global tech outage from last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, committing to uphold that right. He mentioned that the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the recent tech issues.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring full operations after a problematic software update by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This update, which was meant to enhance systems, caused disruptions to Microsoft Windows operating systems, affecting businesses worldwide, including significant issues for corporate users.
The incident had widespread repercussions across various sectors, impacting healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions. Airlines, however, experienced some of the most severe difficulties, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,171 canceled in just one day, as reported by FlightAware. Delta was particularly affected.
The airline reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with 3,441 delays. On Tuesday alone, 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the flight cancellations, stating that canceling a flight is always a last resort. He apologized to passengers impacted by the disruptions and emphasized Delta’s commitment to connecting the world.
Bastian explained that a large number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial tool for crew tracking that failed to adapt to the system shutdown. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.