The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld amidst the airline’s ongoing flight cancellations stemming from a global technical outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating in a social media post on Tuesday that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced significant operational challenges following a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday and affected various businesses worldwide. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in many corporate users experiencing system failures, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident caused widespread disruption across multiple sectors, impacting healthcare providers, delivery services, retail, and financial institutions. Airlines were particularly hard hit, with over 46,000 flights delayed and approximately 5,171 cancelations recorded on Friday alone, according to data from FlightAware. Delta Airlines experienced the most severe impact, canceling around 3,500 flights from Friday to Saturday.
In addition to this, Delta canceled more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, alongside more than 3,400 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had also been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating that canceling flights is not a decision the airline takes lightly. He acknowledged the challenges faced by customers during these disruptions and mentioned that Delta has a substantial number of applications reliant on Microsoft Windows, which contributed to the complications.
To assist affected travelers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights at no cost, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.