The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is effectively addressing consumer rights following a series of flight cancellations linked to a recent global tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the issues stemming from the tech failure.
Delta, based in Atlanta, is facing challenges in resuming its operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike disrupted services worldwide. This update created problems for Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users struggling with system access issues, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech outage significantly affected various industries, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports experiencing some of the most severe repercussions. On a single day last week, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,000 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being particularly hard hit.
A total of approximately 3,500 flights were canceled by Delta on Friday and Saturday alone, and on Sunday and Monday, the airline canceled over 2,500 flights and delayed an additional 3,441. By Tuesday, the airline reported 738 more flights either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions in a statement, noting that canceling flights is always a difficult decision. He acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers and reiterated that Delta’s focus is on connecting people worldwide. Additionally, Delta has implemented a travel waiver enabling customers to change their flights without charge, and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance to those affected.