The U.S. Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being protected amid ongoing flight cancellations following a recent global tech failure. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers are entitled to fair treatment and noted that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been working to restore its operations after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday, caused widespread disruptions. This issue affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and facing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted various sectors, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and finance. The airline industry was particularly hard-hit, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and over 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, as per FlightAware data. Delta experienced the highest number of cancellations.
During the affected period, Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. By Sunday and Monday, the airline had canceled more than 2,500 additional flights and delayed another 3,441. On Tuesday, 738 flights were recorded as either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the cancellations, stating that canceling flights is a measure of last resort. He acknowledged the frustration experienced by travelers and reiterated the company’s commitment to connecting the world. Bastian explained that a significant number of Delta’s applications depend on Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that struggled to adapt to the system shutdown. In response to the disruptions, Delta has announced a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights at no extra cost, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.