The Department of Transportation is probing Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are upheld following a series of flight cancellations linked to a recent global technology outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that every airline passenger deserves fair treatment. He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced significant operational challenges in the aftermath of a flawed software update conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This update, which occurred late Thursday, had far-reaching impacts, including on Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leading to widespread disruptions for businesses globally. Many companies were affected, resulting in difficulties from healthcare providers to retailers and financial institutions. Airlines, in particular, experienced severe setbacks, with over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta being one of the most affected.
On Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights. The airline subsequently canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed 3,441 additional flights over Sunday and Monday. Reports indicate that as of Tuesday, 738 flights had already been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement, saying, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone who has been impacted.” He underscored Delta’s commitment to connecting people and acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers due to the disruptions.
Bastian highlighted that Delta relies on numerous applications running on Microsoft Windows, which contributed to the difficulties in operations, including an essential tool for crew tracking that failed to adapt to the system’s shutdown. To address customer woes, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.