The U.S. Department of Transportation is investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer protections are being upheld as the airline faces ongoing flight cancellations following a global technology outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the right of airline passengers to fair treatment, announcing on social media that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the recent disruptions.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, is struggling to return to normal operations days after a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected various industries worldwide. The mishap, which impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, left many corporate users experiencing significant access issues, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident caused widespread disruption across nearly every major sector, notably affecting airlines and airports. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most severely impacted.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with an additional 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, accompanied by delays to about 3,441 flights. As of Tuesday, the airline had already canceled or delayed 738 flights.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian remarked that flight cancellations are always a last resort and expressed his apologies to passengers impacted by these events. He acknowledged the challenges posed by the disruptions, stating that Delta is committed to connecting the world.
Bastian noted that a number of the airline’s systems rely on Microsoft Windows, including a critical tool for crew tracking that was affected by the shutdown. In response to the situation, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.