The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns as it continues to cancel flights following a major global tech outage last week.
In a related matter, McDonald’s is facing its first lawsuit regarding an E. coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounder burgers.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a statement on social media, noting that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” about Delta’s response to the recent tech failure.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to fully restore operations days after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted business worldwide. The update malfunction affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and encountering the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports faced significant challenges, with over 46,000 flights delayed and 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, as reported by FlightAware. Delta experienced the most severe effects.
The airline canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, an additional 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology to those affected, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian explained that Delta relies heavily on various Microsoft Windows applications, including a crew tracking tool that could not accommodate the changes caused by the system failure. In response, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing passengers to change their flights without charge, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.