The Department of Transportation is conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the company is adequately addressing consumer needs following widespread flight cancellations caused by a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the right of all airline passengers to be treated fairly and pledged to uphold that right. He noted that the department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the outages.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in fully restoring its operations after a failed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected businesses worldwide. A defect in the update impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users experiencing significant disruptions.
The tech incident disrupted nearly every major industry, particularly airlines and airports, which were among the hardest hit. On Friday, more than 46,000 flights were delayed, and over 5,171 were canceled, according to data from FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant impact.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, with more than 2,500 flights canceled and an additional 3,441 delayed on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the flight cancellations, stating that such decisions are never made lightly. He apologized to all customers affected by the disruptions and reiterated Delta’s commitment to facilitating travel.
Bastian explained that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including crucial tools for crew tracking that were impacted by the system outage. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to modify their flights for free, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.