The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns, as it continues to cancel flights following a global technology outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers have the right to fair treatment and that he will ensure those rights are upheld. He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” about Delta’s response to the outages.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to resume normal operations after a software issue caused by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike affected businesses globally. The defect in the software update impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to their systems and facing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
Numerous industries were affected, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and financial institutions, but airlines and airports experienced significant disruptions. On one day alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being among the hardest hit.
Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with more than 2,500 additional cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating that canceling a flight is a last resort and emphasizing the company’s commitment to connecting people. He explained that Delta relies on numerous Microsoft Windows applications, including tools for tracking crew assignments, which were affected by the outage. To assist passengers, Delta has issued a travel waiver that allows customers to change their flights without a fee and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.