The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer needs following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global tech outage from last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for all airline passengers in a statement posted on social media. He noted that the Department had received numerous complaints about Delta’s handling of the situation following the tech issues.
The Atlanta-based airline has faced challenges in resuming normal operations after a problematic software update conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted systems worldwide. A defect in the update caused disruptions, notably affecting Microsoft’s Windows operating systems and leaving many corporate users, including those at Delta, struggling with significant operational issues.
The incident disrupted many sectors, with airlines and airports experiencing severe impacts. FlightAware reported that on a single day, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,000 were canceled, with Delta being particularly affected.
Delta Airlines canceled around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, there were already 738 canceled or delayed flights reported.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated that canceling flights is always a last resort and expressed regret to those affected. He highlighted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for various applications, including essential crew tracking tools, which were unable to function properly due to the system shutdown. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.