The U.S. 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 recent global tech outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg affirmed on social media that all airline passengers have the right to fair treatment, stating that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced difficulties in restoring normal operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted systems worldwide. This update negatively affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving numerous corporate users to contend with access issues, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The software incident impacted nearly every major sector, but the airline industry experienced particularly severe consequences. On a single Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed and an additional 5,171 were canceled, as reported by FlightAware, with Delta being the most significantly impacted airline.
Delta announced the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. The airline recorded more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with 3,441 delays. Reports indicate that on Tuesday alone, 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
In a statement on Sunday, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the disruptions caused by these events, emphasizing that flight cancellations are a last resort. He noted the challenges customers face when travel plans are upended.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on a substantial number of applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including tools crucial for crew tracking, which failed to adjust to the changes brought on by the system disruptions. Delta has also implemented a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights at no cost, alongside providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.