The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is adequately serving its customers amid an ongoing wave of flight cancellations following a global technology outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the rights of all airline passengers to fair treatment, stating, “I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that his department had already received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation following the tech failure.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has had difficulty returning to normal operations in the aftermath of a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that affected numerous businesses globally. The update caused disruptions in Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leading to numerous users encountering the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The repercussions of this incident extended across nearly all major industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and financial institutions, with airlines and airports experiencing the most significant impact. FlightAware reported over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations on Friday alone, with Delta being particularly hard-hit.
The airline canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, an additional 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He acknowledged that Delta relies on numerous applications using Microsoft Windows, including a crew-tracking tool that failed amidst the system outage. To assist affected customers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing for free flight changes, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transport options.