The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is properly addressing consumer needs in light of recent flight cancellations following a global technology outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and assured that this right will be upheld. He also mentioned that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the tech issues.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to return to normal operations after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted businesses worldwide. A flaw in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to their systems and some facing serious issues.
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and financial institutions. The airline and airport sectors were particularly hard hit, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, as per FlightAware. Delta was notably affected, cancelling around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday.
On Sunday and Monday, Delta canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed an additional 3,441. By Tuesday, 738 flights were again canceled or delayed. Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on many applications that use Microsoft Windows, impacting critical operations such as crew tracking during the technical issues. To assist customers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.