The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that the company is fulfilling its obligation to consumers as it continues to cancel flights following a global tech outage last week.
In related news, McDonald’s is facing its first lawsuit stemming from an E. coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounder burgers.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a statement on social media, noting that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the tech disruptions.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to return to normal operations after a faulty software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread issues late Thursday. This update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, which left numerous corporate users unable to access their systems, with some facing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a broad impact, disrupting nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and financial sectors. Airlines faced severe challenges, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, and Delta was hit the hardest.
The airline reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday and reported over 2,500 cancellations along with 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, FlightAware noted that 738 flights had either been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement, 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. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how challenging it is when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian highlighted that Delta relies on “a significant number of applications” that utilize Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that was affected by the system shutdown. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without fees, along with provisions for meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.