The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are upheld amid ongoing flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Atlanta-based Delta is struggling to restore normal operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted businesses globally. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many users with significant access issues.
The incident had a widespread impact across various sectors, with healthcare services, delivery companies, retailers, and financial institutions all facing challenges. Airlines were particularly hard hit, with more than 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware.
Delta’s operations were particularly affected, leading to the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. On Sunday and Monday, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed an additional 3,441. By Tuesday, 738 flights were reported as canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the impact on travelers, stating that canceling flights is a last resort and expressing apologies to those affected. He explained that the airline relies on numerous applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including tools essential for crew tracking, which were incapacitated due to the outage. Delta is offering travel waivers that allow customers to change flights without charge, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.