The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld, following a series of flight cancellations attributed to a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” This statement came after the department reported receiving numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, is working to restore its operations after a failed software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike caused widespread disruptions. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, disrupting access for corporate users and leading to numerous issues, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of the outage was significant, with various industries suffering, but airlines and airports experienced some of the most severe disruptions. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with an additional 5,171 cancellations, as reported by FlightAware. Delta was hit particularly hard, resulting in the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. On Sunday and Monday, Delta canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441. By Tuesday, the airline had reported 738 additional canceled or delayed flights.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, 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.” Bastian noted that a significant number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a tool for tracking crew changes that was affected by the outage. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights at no cost, along with provisions for meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.