The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is treating consumers fairly following a series of flight cancellations after a recent global tech failure.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and that he is committed to upholding this right. His comments come after the department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring normal operations after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday affected businesses worldwide. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without system access and encountering severe errors.
The tech incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced significant disruptions. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and an additional 5,171 flights were canceled, with Delta being the most significantly impacted airline.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations and an additional 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday alone, 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the situation, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort and that the company takes these decisions seriously. He apologized to all affected passengers, emphasizing that Delta is committed to connecting people and the challenges that arise when travel plans are disrupted.
Bastian noted that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking, which were not able to manage the changes due to the system outage. In response, Delta has issued a travel waiver that allows customers to change their flights at no cost and has also provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options for affected travelers.