The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns amid ongoing flight cancellations stemming from a recent global technology outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers have the right to fair treatment, and he is committed to upholding that right. He noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the recent tech disruptions.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to return to normal operations following a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that occurred late last Thursday. This update led to issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without system access and facing severe disruptions.
The outage affected nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports experiencing the most significant impact. On that Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and around 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being particularly hard hit.
The airline reported that it canceled roughly 3,500 flights over the weekend, with more than 2,500 additional cancellations occurring on Sunday and Monday. By Tuesday, Delta had already seen 738 flights canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the disruptions, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort for the airline. He apologized to all passengers affected by the situation. Bastian explained that a significant number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a tool used for crew tracking that was unable to adapt to the system failures. To assist customers, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, as well as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.