The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are upheld, particularly in light of the airline’s ongoing flight cancellations following last week’s global tech outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly,” and indicated that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the tech disruptions.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming service following a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late on Thursday and affected businesses globally. The update malfunctioned with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing significant issues for corporate users, some of whom experienced the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech issue impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, retail, and finance, but airlines were particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed and over 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant disruptions.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. On Sunday and Monday, the airline canceled over 2,500 flights and delayed an additional 3,441. Reports indicate that by Tuesday, another 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He apologized to affected travelers, acknowledging the difficulties created by the disruptions. Bastian noted that Delta’s reliance on numerous applications running on Microsoft Windows contributed to the operational setbacks, mentioning a crew tracking tool affected by the shutdown. To assist passengers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing for free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.