The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is adequately addressing consumer issues amid 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 recent social media statement, noting that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the outages.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has struggled to restore full operations since a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected businesses worldwide. This update caused significant issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and, in some cases, experiencing critical errors.
The incident had widespread repercussions, impacting various industries such as healthcare, retail, and finance. However, airlines and airports faced particularly severe challenges, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and over 5,171 canceled on a single day, according to FlightAware. Delta was notably among the most affected airlines.
On Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights, and by Sunday and Monday, over 2,500 additional flights were canceled, with another 3,441 delayed. On Tuesday alone, 738 flights experienced cancellations or delays.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the disruptions, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He apologized to passengers affected by the events, reiterating Delta’s commitment to connecting the world and acknowledging the difficulties caused by travel interruptions.
Bastian explained that Delta relies heavily on applications that use Microsoft Windows, including a crucial crew tracking system that was hindered by the outage. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge, alongside offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation arrangements.