The Department of Transportation is currently looking into Delta Air Lines to confirm that the airline is addressing customer concerns in the wake of numerous flight cancellations following a global technology outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will ensure that right is upheld.” He mentioned that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation stemming from the technology disruptions.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has struggled to return to normal operations after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected numerous businesses globally. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems, and some even encountered the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports were particularly hit hard, with over 46,000 flights delayed and approximately 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta was among the most severely affected.
Over the course of Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled around 3,500 flights. By Sunday and Monday, they had canceled more than 2,500 additional flights and delayed another 3,441. As of Tuesday, FlightAware reports 738 flights have either been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement, emphasizing that canceling flights is always the last resort and not taken lightly. He apologized to those affected, acknowledging the challenges caused by the disruption. Bastian noted that Delta relies on several applications using Microsoft Windows, including one for crew tracking, which was hindered by the system failures. He mentioned that Delta is offering a travel waiver for customers to change their flights without charge, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.