The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are upheld in light of the numerous flight cancellations following a recent global technology outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for all airline passengers, mentioning in a social media statement that the department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the incident.
Based in Atlanta, Delta has faced challenges in resuming operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday caused widespread disruption. This software issue notably affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, disrupting access for corporate users and prompting the notorious “Blue Screen of Death” error.
The outage impacted nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports experienced particularly severe effects; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with an additional 5,171 canceled, according to FlightAware, placing Delta among the hardest-hit airlines.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, with subsequent cancellations tallying more than 2,500 from Sunday to Monday, along with 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had already been 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. I want to apologize to everyone impacted by these events.” He highlighted that Delta’s operations are built on connecting people and acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers due to the disruptions.
To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and has offered meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation as part of their response to the situation.