The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized in a social media statement that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, committing to uphold that right. He noted that his department has received hundreds of complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in fully restoring its operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected businesses globally. The defect in the update led to significant disruptions in Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users struggling with access issues, including encountering the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of the tech incident was felt across nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines, however, were particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, there were over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,100 cancellations, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most affected airline.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, another 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
CEO Ed Bastian expressed his apologies for the disruptions, stressing that canceling flights is a last resort for the airline. He acknowledged the difficulties faced by travelers and outlined that Delta relies heavily on numerous Microsoft Windows applications, including a crucial crew tracking tool that was unable to adapt in light of the failures.
In response to the cancellations, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing passengers to change their flights without fees, in addition to offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.