The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the company is prioritizing consumer care amid ongoing flight cancellations following a recent global tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” His comments come after the department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding how Delta handled the tech disruptions.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has faced significant operational challenges following a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday and affected businesses worldwide. The update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving numerous corporate users unable to access their systems and facing errors like the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech incident had a widespread impact across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard-hit: more than 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most disruptions.
Delta announced the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. The airline followed up with over 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, alongside 3,441 delayed flights. By Tuesday, there had been an additional 738 flight cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He acknowledged that Delta relies heavily on applications using Microsoft Windows, including tools for tracking crew members that were unable to function correctly during the system outage. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no additional cost and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.