The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is meeting consumer rights amidst ongoing flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
In a statement shared on social media, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for all airline passengers, highlighting that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the outages.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to fully restore its operations after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday, which had widespread repercussions. The update disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users facing significant access issues, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The fallout from the incident affected nearly every sector, with major impacts felt by healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions. Airlines and airports faced particularly severe disruptions; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and around 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most cancellations.
On Friday and Saturday, Delta reported the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights. In the following days, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, along with an additional 3,441 delays. By Tuesday, 738 flights had also suffered cancellations or delays, as per FlightAware data.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the company’s challenges, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort and something the airline does not take lightly. He offered apologies to all affected individuals, reaffirming Delta’s commitment to connecting people around the world and recognizing the difficulties caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian noted that a significant number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial tool for crew tracking, which was hindered by the system shutdown. Delta has implemented a travel waiver that allows customers to change flights without charge and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation to affected travelers.