The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the company is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations related to a global technology outage experienced last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers and expressed his commitment to upholding their rights in a statement shared on social media. He noted that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the recent tech failures.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has faced significant challenges in restoring operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread disruptions on Thursday. This update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems.
The impact of the incident was felt across numerous industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced particularly severe disruptions. On one day alone, Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed and another 5,171 were canceled nationwide, as reported by FlightAware, with Delta being the most affected airline.
Delta announced it had to cancel approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. The situation continued to worsen with over 2,500 flight cancellations reported on Sunday and Monday, along with an additional 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had also been impacted.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, stated that canceling flights is a last resort and offered an apology to all affected travelers. He acknowledged the difficulties caused by the disruptions and reiterated Delta’s commitment to connecting people globally.
Bastian explained that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for several applications, including tools for crew tracking, which struggled to adjust to the system failures. To assist impacted travelers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.