Delta Air Lines Under Scrutiny: Consumer Rights at Risk Amid Flight Chaos

The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer protection amid the ongoing flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and reassured that this right would be upheld. He mentioned having received hundreds of complaints regarding Delta’s response to the technical issues.

Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced difficulties in fully resuming its operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday affected numerous businesses globally. This bug impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing disruptions for corporate users, some of whom encountered the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”

The tech issue had widespread repercussions, impacting various industries including healthcare, deliveries, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports experiencing the most significant disruptions. According to FlightAware, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 canceled this past Friday alone, with Delta being the hardest hit.

Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights across its network on Friday and Saturday, with more than 2,500 additional cancellations and 3,441 delays reported on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, the airline had already canceled or delayed 738 flights.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed his apologies to passengers affected by the situation, emphasizing that flight cancellations are always a last resort. He noted that Delta heavily relies on Microsoft Windows for various applications, including a crew tracking tool that struggled to adapt to the system disruptions. To assist customers, Delta is offering a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.

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