The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global tech failure last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and assured that this right would be upheld. He had noted that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the recent outages.
Delta Air Lines, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring operations after a flawed software update by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted businesses worldwide. This software defect notably affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing significant issues for corporate users, including some experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The repercussions of the incident were widespread, impacting various sectors, including healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions. The airline industry was particularly hard hit; on one Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the highest number of disruptions.
In total, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, with additional cancellations of more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, along with over 3,400 delays. On Tuesday, the situation continued to be challenging, with 738 flights canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruption during a statement on Sunday, explaining that canceling a flight is a last resort and a decision not taken lightly. He apologized to everyone affected, reaffirming Delta’s commitment to connecting the world and understanding the challenges faced when travel plans are disrupted.
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many of its applications, including those for crew tracking, which struggled to adjust following the system shutdown. In response to the situation, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no cost, in addition to offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.