The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld as the airline continues to face significant flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
In a statement released on social media, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly,” reaffirming his commitment to protecting these rights. Buttigieg noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to return to normal operations in the wake of a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This incident, which occurred late Thursday, caused widespread issues, affecting Microsoft’s Windows operating systems and leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems, with some facing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage disrupted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. However, airlines and airports were particularly adversely affected. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being one of the most severely impacted airlines.
Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. Data from FlightAware shows that the airline also canceled more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, with an additional 3,441 delays. By Tuesday, Delta had already canceled or delayed 738 flights.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the inconvenience caused, 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. 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 a “significant number of applications” at Delta utilize Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking that were unable to adapt to the sudden system shutdown. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with offering meals, hotel accommodations, and transportation.