The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations caused by a global technology outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that every airline passenger deserves fair treatment, pledging to uphold that right. He noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the tech disruptions.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced significant challenges in resuming full operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This update, rolled out late Thursday, impacted various businesses globally, including a defect that affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This issue left many corporate users struggling with access to their systems, encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread ramifications, affecting nearly every major industry, such as healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard-hit, with more than 46,000 flight delays and over 5,171 cancellations recorded on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the most impacted airline.
Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights over the following Friday and Saturday, with more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday and an additional 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 more flights were either canceled or delayed.
In a statement, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the inconveniences caused, stating that canceling flights is always the last option for the airline. He reiterated Delta’s commitment to connecting people and acknowledged the challenges travelers face when their plans are disrupted.
Bastian explained that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many applications, including a crew tracking tool that was affected by the system instability. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.