The Department of Transportation is probing Delta Air Lines to ensure proper consumer care as the airline continues to cancel flights following a global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, pledging to uphold this right. He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the tech disruptions.
Delta, based in Atlanta, is facing challenges in fully resuming 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, preventing corporate users from accessing their systems and leading to the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports suffered notably, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most affected.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. The airline reported over 2,500 additional cancellations on Sunday and Monday, alongside 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, FlightAware recorded 738 canceled or delayed flights.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions in a statement on Sunday, asserting that cancelling flights is always a last resort. He acknowledged the inconvenience caused to passengers and reiterated Delta’s commitment to connecting the world.
Bastian pointed out that Delta relies heavily on various applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that struggled with the changes resulting from the system shutdown. In response to the situation, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.