The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld following the airline’s continued flight cancellations stemming from a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that every airline passenger deserves fair treatment, emphasizing that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” concerning Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming full operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike occurred late Thursday, which affected companies worldwide. This update disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems.
The incident had widespread repercussions across multiple industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and financial institutions. However, airlines were particularly impacted, with over 46,000 flights delayed and another 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, as reported by FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant disruption.
Delta cancelled around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, and according to FlightAware, the airline continued to cancel more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday while delaying another 3,441 flights. By Tuesday, 738 more flights had been affected.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret on Sunday, stating that flight cancellations are always a last resort and apologizing to those affected by the disruptions. He acknowledged that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for various applications, including essential tools for crew tracking, which were impacted by the shutdown.
In response, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no charge, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.