The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld, following a recent wave of flight cancellations linked to a global tech outage. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and noted that the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This update, which affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, led to widespread accessibility issues for corporate users.
The outage impacted multiple sectors including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines experiencing significant disruptions. FlightAware reported that on one Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and an additional 5,171 were canceled, with Delta suffering the most extensive impact.
In total, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights over the course of Friday and Saturday, followed by over 2,500 cancellations and nearly 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, the airline reported an additional 738 flights either canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, stated that deciding to cancel a flight is never taken lightly and expressed regret to those affected by the cancellations. He confirmed that a substantial number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including crucial tools for crew tracking, which were unable to function during the outage. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing for free flight changes, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.