The Department of Transportation is launching an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer grievances amid ongoing flight cancellations following a significant global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and vowed to uphold that right. He noted that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation related to the tech failures.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in returning to regular operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted businesses globally. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access and facing severe technical issues, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of this incident extended across various industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines were among the most affected. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing particularly severe disruptions.
The airline canceled roughly 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, followed by over 2,500 cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. By Tuesday, an additional 738 flights had also been canceled or delayed as reported by FlightAware.
In response to the situation, Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian stated, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He extended his apologies to all passengers affected, acknowledging the challenges of disrupted travel. Bastian indicated that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications for operations, including for crew tracking, which suffered significant setbacks during the system outages. To assist passengers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing for free flight changes, as well as offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.