Delta Air Lines Under Scrutiny: Are Passengers Being Fairly Treated?

The Department of Transportation is examining Delta Air Lines to ensure it is prioritizing consumer welfare, as the airline continues to cancel flights following a significant global technology outage last week.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the rights of airline passengers, stating on social media, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He mentioned that the department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the tech issues.

Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted businesses worldwide. The update disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and encountering issues like the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”

The incident affected nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports experienced particularly severe disruptions, with over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta was notably impacted.

During the outage, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. In addition, the airline canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, alongside nearly 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had either been canceled or delayed.

Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions in a statement on Sunday, 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 further noted that Delta relies on a “significant number of applications” that operate on Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool affected by the incident. To assist customers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.

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