The Department of Transportation is conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is properly addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global technology outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of passenger rights in a statement on social media, indicating that his department had 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 from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that occurred late Thursday. This update exposed a flaw affecting Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, disrupting many businesses worldwide and causing critical issues such as the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The global disruption impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance. Airlines were heavily affected, with more than 46,000 flight delays and over 5,171 cancellations reported on just one day, according to FlightAware. Delta Airlines experienced the most significant impact.
The airline canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. Reports indicated over 2,500 additional cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. The troubles continued into Tuesday, with 738 flights canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the distress caused, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He noted that Delta relies on numerous Microsoft Windows applications, including one for crew tracking, which faced operational issues due to the system’s failure.
In response, Delta has enabled a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without charge and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance to those affected.