The Department of Transportation is currently looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that consumer rights are being upheld, as the airline continues to face a significant number of flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for all airline passengers in a statement shared on social media. He noted that the department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has had difficulty resuming normal operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday affected businesses worldwide. This update malfunction impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users experiencing issues, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech crisis has reverberated through various industries, including healthcare, delivery, retail, and finance. However, airlines and airports suffered particularly severe consequences, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and an additional 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware data. Delta was disproportionately affected.
The airline reported canceling around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with over 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with 3,441 delayed flights. By Tuesday, 738 flights were also reported canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating that canceling a flight is always a last resort and not taken lightly. He apologized to all those affected and reaffirmed Delta’s commitment to connecting the world while acknowledging the challenges travelers face when disruptions occur.
Bastian mentioned that a significant number of Delta’s applications depend on Microsoft Windows, including tools for tracking crew availability that were impacted by the system’s failure. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation to those in need.