The Department of Transportation is launching an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld amid ongoing flight cancellations following a significant global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly,” and noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the recent technical difficulties.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, is still working to restore its operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected businesses globally. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leading to widespread access problems and, in some cases, errors like the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech incident had a vast impact across various industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard hit; on Friday alone, there were over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations, as reported by FlightAware. Delta was one of the most affected airlines.
Over the course of Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights. This was followed by over 2,500 more cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with nearly 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, the airline had already recorded 738 canceled or delayed flights.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the situation, stating that canceling flights is a last resort. He acknowledged the impact on travelers and highlighted Delta’s commitment to connecting people worldwide.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on a range of Microsoft Windows applications, including a crucial crew tracking tool, which struggled to adapt to the disruptions caused by the system outage. In response, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without a fee, as well as offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.