The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer rights as it continues to face flight cancellations following a recent global technology outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized in a social media statement that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, highlighting that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the tech issues.
Delta Air Lines, headquartered in Atlanta, has been struggling to resume its regular operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday disrupted businesses worldwide. The update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate clients without access to essential systems and encountering issues such as the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech glitch had a widespread impact, affecting nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. However, the aviation sector faced the brunt of the disruption, with over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta experienced the most significant impact among airlines.
The airline announced the cancellation of around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. By Sunday and Monday, it had canceled over 2,500 additional flights and reported 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 flights were already either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He extended his apologies to those affected, recognizing the challenges travelers face due to disruptions.
Bastian explained that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows across many applications, particularly a crew tracking tool that failed to adjust to the system’s shutdown. In response to the ongoing issues, Delta has provided a travel waiver for customers to change their flights at no cost, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transport assistance.