The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is addressing consumer concerns, following a series of flight cancellations stemming from a global technology outage last week.
On social media, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that the department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced ongoing challenges in resuming normal flight operations after a faulty software update by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike affected businesses globally. This update contained a defect that disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing significant access issues for corporate users.
The incident impacted various industries, including healthcare, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced the most severe effects. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and an additional 5,171 were canceled, as reported by FlightAware, with Delta being the most significantly affected airline.
Delta canceled roughly 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, alongside 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, the airline reported 738 more flights either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He acknowledged the difficulties faced by travelers and reassured that Delta is committed to connecting the world.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on a substantial number of applications using Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that was unable to adapt to the system failures. In response to the situation, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no additional cost, and has also offered meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.