The Department of Transportation is examining Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are protected amid ongoing flight cancellations following a global technology outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating on social media that he would ensure these rights are upheld. He noted that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the recent outages.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges resuming normal operations after a failed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted services globally. A flaw in this update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, preventing corporate users from accessing their systems and resulting in widespread technical issues.
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines suffered particularly severe disruptions. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and more than 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware data, with Delta experiencing the most significant effects.
Delta canceled around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, followed by over 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, in addition to 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had already been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret, stating that cancelling flights is never taken lightly. He apologized to all customers affected by the disruptions, acknowledging the challenges travelers face when plans are altered. Bastian explained that Delta relies heavily on Windows-based applications, including critical tools for crew tracking, which were impacted by the system outage. To accommodate affected travelers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, as well as offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.