The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that consumer rights are being upheld, following the airline’s significant flight cancellations linked to a recent global tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a statement shared on social media. He noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the aftermath of the tech issues.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced difficulties in restoring its operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike affected businesses worldwide late last week. This defect interfered with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users experiencing access issues, including instances of the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of this incident was widespread, disrupting nearly every major industry, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance. Airlines experienced particularly severe repercussions, with over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta was notably the most affected airline.
The company canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations and an additional 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had already been either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation in a statement, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He also noted that Delta relies on a significant number of Microsoft Windows-based applications, which contributed to the operational disruptions.
To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver, allowing free flight changes, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.