The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that consumer rights are being honored as the airline deals with ongoing flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated on social media, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced significant challenges in restoring its operations after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday affected various businesses worldwide. An issue with this update impacted Microsoft’s Windows systems, leaving corporate users without access to essential functions and dealing with severe system errors.
The incident influenced nearly every sector, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and finance, but the airline industry experienced the brunt of the disruption. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most cancellations.
The airline reported that it canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday alone, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, there were already 738 flights reported as canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the flight cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected by these events.” He emphasized Delta’s role in connecting people and acknowledged the difficulties caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian revealed that Delta relies on several Microsoft Windows applications, including a critical crew tracking tool that was unable to cope with the changes caused by the system failure. To assist travelers, Delta is offering a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without extra charges, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.