The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that consumer rights are upheld, especially as the airline continues to face ongoing flight cancellations following a global technology outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a statement on social media, noting that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the outage.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to return to normal operations after a software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike malfunctioned late Thursday, affecting businesses worldwide. This failed update had repercussions for Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing difficulties for corporate users and resulting in instances of critical system failures.
The outage impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports bore the brunt of the disruption. On one day alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed, with over 5,171 cancellations reported, according to FlightAware. Delta was particularly affected, cancelling around 3,500 flights over the weekend and continuing to face disruptions with further cancellations and delays early in the week.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated that cancelling flights is a last resort and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to affected travelers. He acknowledged the airline’s reliance on Microsoft Windows for various applications, including a crew tracking system that failed due to the outage. Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without charge, in addition to offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.