The Department of Transportation is currently looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following ongoing flight cancellations linked to a global tech failure from last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a statement on social media. He noted that the department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the technical disruptions.
Delta Air Lines, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced significant operational challenges after a software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike created widespread issues, affecting businesses globally. This update negatively impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leading to accessibility problems for corporate users and some experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident disrupted almost every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. However, the aviation sector suffered notably, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,000 canceled just on Friday, as reported by FlightAware. Delta was particularly impacted, canceling approximately 3,500 flights between Friday and Saturday. On Sunday and Monday, Delta canceled over 2,500 flights and saw an additional 3,441 delays. On Tuesday alone, 738 flights faced cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the challenges and apologized to affected travelers, stressing that canceling flights is a last resort. He mentioned that Delta relies heavily on various applications running on Microsoft Windows and noted that a tool related to crew tracking was particularly hindered due to the system outage. To assist impacted passengers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver, allowing free flight changes along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation services.