The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer satisfaction in the wake of multiple flight cancellations following last week’s global technology outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the rights of airline passengers to fair treatment and stated his commitment to upholding those rights. He noted that the Department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation stemming from the tech failures.
The Atlanta-based airline has struggled to return to normal operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused disruptions around the globe, affecting Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This incident left many corporate users unable to access their systems, leading to widespread issues including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The disruptions impacted nearly every major industry, notably healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard-hit, with FlightAware reporting over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations on Friday alone, with Delta facing the most significant impact.
Delta has canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with over 2,500 more cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with around 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, 738 flights had already experienced cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that shutting down flights is always a last resort and apologizing to those affected by the disruptions. He highlighted that Delta relies on a large number of applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, which contributed to the inability to track crew schedules and other necessary operational tasks. In response, Delta has offered a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights for free, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support.