The Department of Transportation is investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being respected, as the airline faces ongoing flight cancellations following a recent global tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a statement on social media. He noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the outages.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has struggled to resume its operations following a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday, which affected businesses globally. The update had a defect that disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving users, including corporate entities, without access and in some cases facing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread ramifications, impacting various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard-hit, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, as tracked by FlightAware. Delta experienced the most severe effects.
On Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights, and according to FlightAware, over 2,500 more cancellations occurred on Sunday and Monday, along with an additional 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, the situation continued with at least 738 flights either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology on Sunday, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort and not taken lightly. He acknowledged the significant disruptions to customers’ travel plans and reiterated Delta’s commitment to connecting the world.
Bastian also highlighted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including a crew tracking tool that failed due to the system’s downtime. In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver for affected customers, allowing free flight changes and providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.