The Department of Transportation is conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns, particularly following a series of flight cancellations stemming from a recent global technology outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the rights of airline passengers, stating on social media, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that the department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the tech failures.
Based in Atlanta, Delta has faced challenges in resuming full operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected numerous businesses worldwide. This update resulted in issues within Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, impacting corporate users and causing disruptions, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
Almost every major industry experienced disruptions due to the incident, with healthcare providers, delivery companies, retailers, and financial institutions among those affected. Airlines and airports were particularly hard hit; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and more than 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most significantly impacted.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. In addition, the airline canceled over 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441 on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, 738 flights were again canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian apologized to affected passengers, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He acknowledged that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking, which struggled to cope with the shutdown. To assist affected travelers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver that allows customers to change their flights without charge, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel rooms, and transportation.