The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is adequately addressing consumer needs following a series of flight cancellations, which arose from a global technology outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized via social media on Tuesday that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly,” assuring that this right would be upheld. He noted that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming full operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused significant disruptions. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users being unable to access their systems and experiencing issues like the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
Many industries were impacted, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but the airline sector endured some of the most severe repercussions. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with an additional 5,171 cancellations reported by FlightAware. Delta was particularly affected, canceling approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday and more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, with an additional 3,441 delayed. By Tuesday, 738 flights had already been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He issued an apology to those impacted by the disruptions, reiterating Delta’s commitment to connecting the world and acknowledging the challenges posed by travel interruptions.
Bastian further explained that Delta relies on numerous applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool, which was hindered by the system’s shutdown. In response to the situation, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.