The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations resulting from a global technology outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly,” assuring that this right would be upheld. He noted that the department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming full operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday. This update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing significant access issues for corporate users, with some experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare providers, delivery services, retail, and financial institutions. Airlines bore a particularly heavy brunt, with over 46,000 flights delayed and 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant disruptions.
Delta reported the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. Following that, more than 2,500 flights were canceled on Sunday and Monday, accompanied by an additional 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, FlightAware indicated that 738 flights had already been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He extended an apology to all affected passengers, affirming Delta’s commitment to connecting the world and recognizing the difficulties caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian pointed out that Delta relies on numerous applications built on Microsoft Windows, which includes essential tools for crew tracking that were rendered inoperable due to the system failure. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without extra charges, along with provisions for meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.