The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer protection as the airline continues to cancel flights following a recent global tech outage. 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 response to the disruptions caused by the outage.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to fully restore its operations following a flawed software update by CrowdStrike that occurred late last Thursday. This update impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in widespread access issues for corporate users and, in some cases, the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident affected nearly every major sector, with healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions also feeling the impact. Airlines and airports were hit particularly hard; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and approximately 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant disruptions.
Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. In addition, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, while also delaying an additional 3,441 flights. On Tuesday, 738 flights had either been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that shutting down a flight is always a last resort and not a decision taken lightly. He apologized to affected passengers, acknowledging the challenges of disrupted travel. Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including tools for crew tracking that were unable to adjust due to the system issues. To support affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing complimentary flight changes, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.