The U.S. Department of Transportation is launching an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure that it is adequately addressing consumer concerns amid ongoing flight cancellations following a recent global tech failure.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating on social media that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to restore normal operations after a faulty software update by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike caused widespread disruption late last Thursday. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users facing access issues and experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, particularly healthcare, deliveries, retail, and finance. Airlines experienced significant disruptions, with data from FlightAware reporting over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations on Friday alone, with Delta being the most affected.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, and more than 2,500 additional cancellations occurred on Sunday and Monday, coupled with over 3,400 delays. On Tuesday alone, the airline faced 738 canceled or delayed flights.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology to affected passengers, stating that canceling flights is a last resort. He acknowledged the challenges passengers face when travel plans are disrupted and highlighted that a significant number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, which contributed to the operational setbacks.
To support impacted customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing flight changes without fees, and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.