The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld amid ongoing flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, noting that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the outages.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late last Thursday. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access and experiencing issues such as the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech incident had widespread repercussions, impacting various sectors, including healthcare, delivery, retail, and finance. Airlines, however, experienced significant disruptions, with over 46,000 flights delayed and approximately 5,171 canceled just on Friday. Delta was particularly affected.
In total, Delta canceled around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. The airline reported cancellations of more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, with an additional 3,441 flights delayed. On Tuesday alone, FlightAware indicated that 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort. He apologized to customers affected by the disruptions, reaffirming Delta’s commitment to connecting people worldwide.
Bastian explained that a number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a tool for tracking crew assignments that was unable to function properly due to the system failures. To assist impacted travelers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, alongside offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.