The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are upheld, amid ongoing cancellations following a global tech outage last week. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, referencing a surge of complaints about Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced difficulties resuming normal operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which affected businesses globally. The update caused issues within Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in significant disruptions, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death” for some corporate users.
The incident had a wide-ranging impact across various sectors, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and financial institutions, but airlines and airports suffered the most. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, while an additional 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant impacts.
Delta announced the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, with reports indicating more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday and an additional 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, at least 738 flights faced cancellations or delays.
In response to the turmoil, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, emphasizing that flight cancellations are always a last resort. He acknowledged the significant reliance on Microsoft systems, especially a crew tracking tool affected by the shutdown. To assist travelers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver that allows customers to change their flights without charge, in addition to offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.