The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer needs following a wave of flight cancellations resulting from a global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment. He noted that the department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the outages caused by a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday. This malfunction affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate entities unable to access their systems and dealing with significant disruptions.
The tech incident impacted numerous industries, but airlines and airports faced some of the most severe repercussions. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and approximately 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant impact.
Delta reported that it canceled around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with delays for an additional 3,441 flights. By Tuesday, the airline had already faced 738 cancellations or delays, as per FlightAware data.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian apologized to those affected, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He highlighted that Delta’s business revolves around connecting people across the globe and acknowledged the challenges caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on numerous applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking, which was unable to operate due to the system failure. In response, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no additional cost, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.