The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is adequately addressing consumer needs as it continues to cancel flights following a global technical outage last week.
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 has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the recent tech issues.
Delta, based in Atlanta, is experiencing challenges in returning to normal operations after a flawed software update by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected various businesses globally. This update resulted in issues for Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving numerous corporate users unable to access their systems and facing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage had a significant impact across multiple industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports were particularly affected; on a single day, Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the hardest hit.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. The airline then canceled more than 2,500 additional flights on Sunday and Monday, alongside delaying another 3,441 flights. On Tuesday alone, 738 flights were reported as either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort and something we don’t take lightly.” He apologized to all those affected by these disruptions, reinforcing Delta’s commitment to connecting the world and acknowledging the challenges that arise when travel plans are altered.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on a substantial number of applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including tools for tracking crew that were unable to process necessary changes due to the system failures. To assist impacted customers, Delta is offering a travel waiver, allowing free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation services.