The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is appropriately addressing consumer issues following a series of flight cancellations caused by a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and he is committed to upholding this right. He also mentioned that the department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced significant operational challenges after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected businesses worldwide. A glitch in this update disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing corporate users to lose access to their systems and, in severe cases, deal with the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The widespread incident impacted nearly all major industries, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and finance. However, the airline sector was especially affected, with over 46,000 flights delayed and 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, as reported by FlightAware. Delta was particularly hard hit.
The airline canceled roughly 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday and over 2,500 on Sunday and Monday, in addition to delaying another 3,441 flights. As of Tuesday, FlightAware reported that 738 flights had already been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that canceling a flight is a last resort. He apologized to those affected, acknowledging the difficulties travelers face when their plans are disrupted. Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many of its applications, including a crucial crew tracking tool that failed to adapt to the system shutdown. To aid affected customers, Delta is providing a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.