The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is properly addressing consumer needs following a series of flight cancellations linked to a recent global tech outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that the department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of disruptions caused by the tech failures.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to return to normal operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted businesses worldwide last Thursday. The update malfunctioned, affecting Microsoft’s Windows operating systems and leaving corporate users dealing with critical system access issues.
The incident disrupted multiple sectors, with airlines and airports facing significant challenges. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights experienced delays and another 5,171 were canceled, according to data from FlightAware, with Delta being notably affected.
Delta reported around 3,500 flight cancellations on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday and Monday, the airline canceled over 2,500 flights and delayed an additional 3,441. By Tuesday, 738 flights had either been canceled or delayed, according to FlightAware.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the challenges during these disruptions, 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.” He noted that many of Delta’s applications, particularly those for crew tracking, rely on Microsoft Windows and were hindered by the outage. To assist affected customers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing complimentary flight changes, as well as offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.