The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns in light of continued flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for all airline passengers, stating that his department had received numerous complaints about Delta’s response to the recent outages.
Delta Airlines, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming normal operations after a problematic software update implemented by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike last Thursday affected businesses worldwide. This update inadvertently impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and encountering critical errors.
The incident caused widespread disruption across various industries, including healthcare, delivery, retail, and financial services. The airline sector experienced significant setbacks, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on a single day, according to FlightAware. Delta was among the most significantly affected airlines.
On Friday and Saturday alone, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights. In total, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, along with 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, 738 additional flights faced cancellations or delays, as per FlightAware data.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian noted that Delta relies on a “significant number of applications” utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking that was unable to function due to the system shutdown. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.