The Department of Transportation is currently looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer needs following a wave of flight cancellations linked to a recent global technology malfunction.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly,” and stated he will ensure that this right is protected. He mentioned that the department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation after the tech issues arose.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in fully resuming operations following a failed software update by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The update, initiated late Thursday, unexpectedly affected Microsoft’s Windows operating system, impacting businesses worldwide and leaving many corporate users facing significant accessibility problems.
An array of industries, including healthcare, retail, and finance, experienced disruptions, but airlines were particularly hard-hit. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with an additional 5,171 cancellations reported according to FlightAware. Delta experienced the most significant impact.
The airline canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, followed by over 2,500 more cancellations from Sunday to Monday, with another 3,441 flights delayed. As of Tuesday, 738 flights have already faced cancellations or delays.
In a statement on Sunday, Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the situation, saying, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone who has been impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how challenging it is when travel plans are disrupted.”
Bastian noted that Delta relies on numerous applications using Microsoft Windows, including critical tools for crew tracking that were unable to adapt to the circumstances caused by the technology failure. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and has offered meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation services.