The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is properly addressing consumer needs following a series of flight cancellations attributed to a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the rights of airline passengers in a statement posted on social media, asserting that everyone deserves fair treatment. He noted that the department has been inundated with “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the recent technological issues.
Delta Airlines, based in Atlanta, has faced significant challenges in restoring operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected businesses worldwide. This update led to problems with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate customers without system access and experiencing issues like the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The fallout from this incident extended across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines bore a particularly heavy burden. On one of the worst days, Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant impact.
The airline reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. Additionally, it canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441 on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, there were already 738 flights delayed or canceled.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions during a statement on Sunday, insisting that canceling flights is always a last resort. He apologized to affected travelers, highlighting Delta’s commitment to connecting people and the challenges that arise from disrupted travel.
Bastian noted that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, one of which is essential for tracking crew schedules. In response to the disruptions, Delta has introduced a travel waiver that allows customers to change flights at no cost, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation services.