The Department of Transportation (DOT) is probing Delta Air Lines to verify its adherence to consumer rights amid ongoing flight cancellations following a significant global technology outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating on social media, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the outages.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted businesses globally last Thursday. A defect in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing corporate users to lose access and, in some instances, to encounter the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The fallout affected various sectors, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports experiencing significant disruptions. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed and over 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being particularly hard hit.
Delta reported the cancellation of around 3,500 flights on both Friday and Saturday. The airline also canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, while delaying an additional 3,441. On Tuesday, there were 738 flights canceled or delayed.
In response to the situation, Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He expressed regret for those affected, acknowledging the difficulties disruptions cause for travelers.
Bastian further explained that Delta relies heavily on numerous applications using Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that was unable to manage the changes due to the system shutdown. To assist impacted travelers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.