The Department of Transportation is conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are prioritized, as the airline continues to face flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg reaffirmed the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a social media statement on Tuesday. He noted that the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the recent disruptions caused by a technology failure.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has struggled to recover operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday. This update created issues for Microsoft’s Windows operating system, affecting various businesses globally, including airlines, healthcare providers, and financial institutions. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with more than 5,000 cancellations reported, heavily impacting Delta.
The airline canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, with FlightAware reporting over 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 flights were canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I apologize to everyone affected by these events.” He acknowledged that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including a crucial crew tracking tool that failed due to the outage. Delta has implemented a travel waiver, allowing passengers to change flights at no cost, and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation to those impacted.