The Department of Transportation is examining Delta Air Lines to ensure that it is fulfilling its obligations to customers, following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and that he is committed to upholding that right. His remarks follow reports of “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the recent tech issues.
Delta Airlines has been struggling to return to normal operations following a failed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday and caused widespread disruptions. The flawed update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users being locked out of their systems and facing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of the incident was felt across nearly every sector, affecting healthcare providers, logistics companies, retailers, and financial institutions. However, airlines faced significant challenges, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and about 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most severe effects.
Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights over the weekend, with over 2,500 flights canceled on Sunday and Monday, alongside additional delays. On Tuesday, the airline continued to face operational challenges, resulting in 738 more flights being canceled or delayed.
In a statement on Sunday, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, emphasizing that flight cancellations are a last resort. He acknowledged the difficulties passengers face when their travel plans are affected. Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many of its applications, including a critical crew tracking system that was rendered inoperative due to the outage. Delta is offering a travel waiver, allowing customers to change flights without fees, as well as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.