The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the company is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations linked to a recent global tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and that he is committed to ensuring this right is upheld. Buttigieg’s comments come after the department received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, which is based in Atlanta, has been struggling to restore full operational capacity after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday led to widespread disruptions. The update caused issues for Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, with healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions among those affected. Airlines faced significant challenges, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta being one of the hardest hit.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, and by Sunday and Monday, the airline had canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed an additional 3,441. As of Tuesday, there have already been 738 flights reported as canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated that canceling flights is always a last resort and expressed his apologies to those affected by the disruptions. Bastian noted that Delta relies on numerous applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that was compromised due to the system failure. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights free of charge, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support.