The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are protected amid ongoing flight cancellations linked to a recent global tech outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that all airline passengers are entitled to fair treatment, noting that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation following the tech failures.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced significant operational challenges after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted services across various industries. This update particularly affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users stranded with system issues, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The technological incident had widespread repercussions, impacting multiple sectors including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline industry experienced some of the worst disruptions. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed and approximately 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware data, with Delta experiencing the highest number of cancellations.
The airline reported canceling around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday alone, and by Sunday and Monday, it had scrapped more than 2,500 flights and delayed an additional 3,441. On Tuesday, reports indicated that 738 flights had again been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone affected by these events.” He also noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, which contributed to the operational disruptions.
In response to the travel chaos, Delta is offering a travel waiver that allows customers to change flights without penalty, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.