The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that consumer rights are being upheld as the airline faces ongoing flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating on social media that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to restore its operations fully after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike led to widespread disruptions. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving businesses without access to critical systems and resulting in the infamous “Blue Screen of Death” in some cases.
The outage had a broad impact across various industries, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance. However, the airline sector suffered particularly, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,171 canceled on just one day, according to FlightAware, with Delta feeling the brunt of these interruptions.
Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. In addition, it canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, while delaying another 3,441 flights. As of Tuesday, 738 flights faced cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the difficulties caused by the cancellations, stating on Sunday that canceling flights is always a last resort. He offered apologies to all affected customers, reinforcing Delta’s commitment to connecting the world and the challenges posed by disrupted travel.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on a significant number of Microsoft Windows applications, including a crew tracking tool, which could not adapt to the changes caused by the outage. In response, Delta is providing a travel waiver to allow customers to change their flights at no charge and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation services for those impacted.