The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure proper consumer protection as the airline faces ongoing flight cancellations following a global tech outage that transpired last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment. He noted that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the recent tech disruptions.
Based in Atlanta, Delta has encountered difficulties in fully restoring its operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, affecting numerous businesses and leaving many corporate users experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a widespread impact across various major industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines, however, were hit particularly hard; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and an additional 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most severely affected.
Delta reported the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. The airline also canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, along with delaying another 3,441 flights. As of Tuesday, FlightAware noted that 738 flights had either been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the challenges posed by the cancellations, 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. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian detailed that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for several applications, including those used for crew tracking, which struggled to adjust following the system shutdown. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no additional cost, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.