The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure the company is adequately addressing consumer concerns following numerous flight cancellations caused by a global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, vowing to uphold this right. He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring normal operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which took place late Thursday. This update interfered with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many businesses without system access and some experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech failure impacted a wide range of industries, but airlines and airports were particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and an additional 5,171 were canceled, with Delta suffering the most significant disruptions.
The airline reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday along with 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had also been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed remorse for the disruptions, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He acknowledged Delta’s reliance on Microsoft Windows for various applications, including those critical for crew tracking, which were unable to adapt due to the system shutdown. To assist affected customers, Delta is offering a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.