The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that consumer rights are being upheld, particularly in light of the company’s ongoing flight cancellations following a global tech incident last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and noted that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the technology outages.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to restore normal operations after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread disruptions. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users losing access to their systems and experiencing significant technical issues.
The incident had far-reaching consequences, impacting nearly every major industry, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance. The airline sector faced particularly severe disruptions, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most affected.
On Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights, with more than 2,500 cancellations and an additional 3,441 delays the following Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, the airline had already seen 738 flights canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the situation, stating that canceling a flight is a last resort and should not be taken lightly. He apologized to all those affected and reiterated Delta’s commitment to connecting travelers worldwide.
Bastian explained that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including critical tools for crew tracking that were unable to function due to the outages. To support customers impacted by the flight disruptions, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing for free flight changes, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.