The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that consumer rights are upheld as the airline deals with a series of flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, mentioning the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to return to normal operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused significant disruptions worldwide. The update negatively impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, preventing many corporate users from accessing their systems and resulting in the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident affected nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports faced the most severe consequences. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,171 were canceled, with Delta experiencing the most significant impact.
The airline canceled around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with additional cancellations exceeding 2,500 and delays of 3,441 reported on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday saw 738 flights either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that they are always a last resort and acknowledging the difficulties faced by affected travelers. He noted that a number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial crew tracking tool that failed due to the outage. In response to the disruptions, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no cost, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.