The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is fulfilling its obligations to consumers after the company has been forced to cancel numerous flights following a global tech outage last week.
Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation, emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a recent social media post. He noted that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to restore full operations after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday disrupted businesses around the globe. This faulty update affected Microsoft’s Windows systems, leading many corporate users to face access issues and the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of the incident extended to nearly all major industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. However, the airline sector was particularly hard hit, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most affected.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. The airline subsequently canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, along with delaying another 3,441. On Tuesday alone, 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
In a statement on Sunday, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian explained that Delta relies on several applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that was affected by the system malfunction. In response to the disruptions, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.