The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is addressing consumer concerns following a wave of flight cancellations resulting from a recent global tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, vowing to uphold this right. He mentioned the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation stemming from the tech failures.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges in fully restoring its services days after a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted various sectors globally. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving several corporate users unable to access their systems and, in some instances, dealing with significant system failures.
The incident had a widespread effect across numerous industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports were particularly hard hit; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed while an additional 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware data, with Delta experiencing the most significant disruptions.
Delta reported the cancellation of roughly 3,500 flights over the course of Friday and Saturday. The airline also canceled more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, while delaying another 3,441. As of Tuesday, FlightAware noted that 738 flights had either been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort and not taken lightly. He apologized to all affected customers, reinforcing Delta’s commitment to connecting travelers globally.
Bastian explained that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many applications, including critical tools used for crew tracking that were unable to adapt to the system disruptions. In response, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing customers to modify their flights at no additional charge, in addition to offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.