Delta Air Lines Under Fire: Flight Cancellations Spark Government Investigation

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The Department of Transportation is currently conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is adequately addressing consumer needs following a series of flight cancellations attributed to a global tech outage that occurred last week.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of treating all airline passengers fairly, stating, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” This statement follows reports of “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.

Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming normal operations days after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that occurred late Thursday, which affected various businesses globally. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, disrupting access for corporate users and, in some cases, resulting in the “Blue Screen of Death.”

The incident had a widespread impact across nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard hit; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights experienced delays while 5,171 flights were canceled, as reported by FlightAware. Delta was among those most severely affected.

The airline announced it had cancelled around 3,500 flights throughout Friday and Saturday. In addition, it canceled more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, with another 3,441 flights delayed. As of Tuesday, FlightAware reported that 738 flights had been canceled or delayed.

Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over 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 noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for numerous applications, including a crew tracking tool that was hindered by the software issues. To assist affected passengers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights without fees, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.

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