The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure it is fulfilling its responsibilities to consumers, as the airline continues to cancel flights following a major global technical outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized passengers’ rights to fair treatment in a statement on social media, highlighting that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” about Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced significant challenges in resuming normal operations after a problematic software update by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted businesses worldwide. This update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing disruptions for corporate users.
The outage had widespread implications, affecting numerous industries such as healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines, particularly Delta, were among the most severely impacted, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, and according to data from FlightAware, the airline scrapped more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, with additional delays and cancellations continuing on Tuesday.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the challenges, stating that flight cancellations are not taken lightly and extended an apology to those affected by the disruptions. He noted that a significant number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, which contributed to the operational issues.
In response to the ongoing disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without charge, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.