The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is fulfilling its obligations to consumers amid ongoing flight cancellations following a significant global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for all airline passengers in a social media statement on Tuesday. He noted that the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation following the technical failure.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in fully restoring its operations days after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted various businesses internationally. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in many corporate users experiencing accessibility issues and even encountering severe system errors.
The repercussions of the incident have been widespread, affecting nearly every major industry, including healthcare, retail, logistics, and financial services. Airlines and airports experienced particularly severe disruptions, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone.
Delta Airlines canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. Following that, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday and delayed another 3,441 flights. As of Tuesday, 738 flights have already been either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated that canceling flights is a measure of last resort that the airline does not take lightly. He expressed his apologies to all affected passengers, acknowledging how challenging it can be when travel plans are disrupted.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on a significant number of Microsoft Windows-based applications, including a crucial tool for crew tracking, which was unable to function due to the unexpected system shutdown. To address customer concerns, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing passengers to modify their flight plans for free, in addition to offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation alternatives.