The Department of Transportation is currently examining Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer protection as the airline faces numerous flight cancellations following last week’s widespread tech outage. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly” and noted that his department received “hundreds of complaints” related to Delta’s response to the outages.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to restore its operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected global businesses. This update led to issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing corporate users to lose access and encounter the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident disrupted nearly every major industry, notably impacting healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions. Airlines were among the most severely affected, with more than 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta was particularly hard hit, canceling around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday.
On Sunday and Monday, Delta canceled over 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441. The airline saw an ongoing impact, with 738 flights canceled or delayed by Tuesday. Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He acknowledged the difficulties passengers faced due to the disruptions and highlighted that Delta is committed to connecting people worldwide.
Bastian noted that a considerable number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial crew tracking tool that was affected by the outage. In response to the situation, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation to those impacted.