The U.S. Department of Transportation is examining Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations stemming from a global technology outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers are entitled to fair treatment, and he is dedicated to upholding this principle. He previously mentioned that the department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the tech issues.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to restore full operations after a problematic software update issued by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday affected numerous businesses worldwide. A defect in the update influenced Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing some corporate users to face significant access issues, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The disruption impacted nearly every major sector, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports suffering particularly severe consequences. According to FlightAware, over 46,000 flights were delayed and another 5,171 were canceled on Friday alone, with Delta bearing the brunt of these disruptions.
The airline reported roughly 3,500 flight cancellations on Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. By Tuesday, the situation continued to deteriorate, with 738 additional flights being canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement, stating that canceling a flight is always a last resort and that the company does not take such actions lightly. He extended apologies to all those affected by the situation, reaffirming Delta’s commitment to facilitating global travel and acknowledging the challenges presented by travel disruptions.
Bastian also noted that many of Delta’s applications depend on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial crew tracking tool that was unable to adapt to the changes caused by the technical failures. To assist customers, Delta has rolled out a travel waiver allowing passengers to modify their flights at no extra cost, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.