The Department of Transportation is conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns in light of ongoing flight cancellations following a recent global technology outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and he is committed to ensuring that their rights are protected. This follows reports that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the tech issues.
Delta Air Lines, headquartered in Atlanta, is facing challenges in fully restoring its operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused disruptions worldwide. This update malfunctioned within Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and experiencing serious errors.
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, with particular severity felt by airlines and airports. On a single day, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, and more than 5,171 flights were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most affected airline.
Delta reported cancellations of approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday alone. Further cancellations included over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, alongside more than 3,400 delayed flights. On Tuesday, 738 flights were recorded as either canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating that flight cancellations are a last resort and the airline understands the difficulties faced by passengers. He noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including tools critical for crew tracking, which were impacted by the system failure. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without penalty, alongside offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.