The Department of Transportation is examining Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing passenger needs as it continues to cancel flights following a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, and he is committed to upholding that right. He had previously mentioned that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the tech issues.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to restore normal operations following a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that affected businesses worldwide. A flaw in the update impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users facing significant issues, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage affected nearly all major industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced the most severe consequences. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the hardest hit.
The airline reported approximately 3,500 canceled flights on Friday and Saturday and more than 2,500 cancellations over the following Sunday and Monday, alongside 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, FlightAware recorded 738 flights that were either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated on Sunday that canceling flights is a last resort that the airline does not take lightly, and he extended his apologies to those affected by the disruptions. He emphasized that Delta is committed to connecting people and recognizes the challenges that arise when travel plans are altered.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on numerous applications that depend on Microsoft Windows, including tools for tracking crew schedules, which were adversely affected by the system failure. To assist passengers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without incurring fees and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.