The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer needs following a series of flight cancellations stemming from a global technology outage experienced last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and expressed commitment to uphold that right. He noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has encountered significant operational disruptions after a failed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread issues. This defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving numerous corporate users struggling with access to their systems, and some faced the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The global outage impacted a variety of sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline industry was particularly hard hit. On a single day, Friday, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, and an additional 5,171 flights were canceled, according to data from FlightAware. Delta experienced the most significant disruptions.
In total, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights over the weekend, with more than 2,500 cancellations reported on Sunday and Monday, alongside 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 additional flights faced cancellations or delays.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers, stating that canceling flights is a last resort and not taken lightly. He extended apologies to those affected, emphasizing Delta’s mission to connect the world and the difficulties caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian highlighted that Delta relies heavily on numerous applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking, which was unable to adapt to the operational disruptions. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing changes to flights without fees, and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.