The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations attributed to a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized in a social media statement that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, pledging to uphold this right. He noted that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the recent technological disruptions.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced significant challenges in restoring its operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread issues late last Thursday. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving business users, including Delta, unable to access critical systems and in some cases experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports experiencing some of the most severe repercussions. On Friday alone, FlightAware reported more than 46,000 flight delays and over 5,171 cancellations, with Delta being particularly hard-hit.
During the disruptive period, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. In total, the airline scrapped more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday and saw an additional 3,441 flights delayed. By Tuesday, Delta had already canceled or delayed 738 flights, according to data from FlightAware.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that they are always a last resort. He apologized to all those affected by the disruptions, affirming that Delta is committed to connecting the world and understands the difficulty caused by travel interruptions.
Bastian also noted that Delta relies on a number of applications that run on Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking, which struggled to process the changes caused by the system outages. In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights without charge and providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.