The U.S. Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being handled appropriately amid ongoing flight cancellations that followed a recent global technology outage. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated via social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, and he intends to uphold that principle, noting that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the technical difficulties.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring full operations following a failed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that occurred late last Thursday. This issue significantly disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access and some even experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The fallout from this incident extended across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline industry appeared to suffer the most. Over 46,000 flights experienced delays and more than 5,171 were canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware data, with Delta being the most impacted.
Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, in addition to over 3,400 delayed flights. By Tuesday, the airline had already canceled or delayed 738 flights.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the situation in a statement, emphasizing that flight cancellations are a last resort and that the airline does not take such actions lightly. He acknowledged the frustration caused to travelers and reiterated Delta’s commitment to connecting the world.
Bastian added that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including crucial tools for crew tracking, which were hindered by the outage. In response to the disruptions, Delta has announced a travel waiver enabling customers to change their flights without charge, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.