The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld, as the airline continues to face significant flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation stemming from the tech issues.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has struggled to regain full operational capacity after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted multiple industries worldwide, particularly airlines. The update malfunctioned, affecting Microsoft’s Windows operating systems and causing disruptions for many corporate users.
The repercussions of the incident were widespread, with nearly every major sector impacted, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. The airline industry was particularly hard hit, with over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta experienced the most significant effects.
Delta Airlines reported the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with more than 2,500 flights canceled on Sunday and Monday, in addition to over 3,400 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had also faced cancellations or delays.
In a statement, Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, emphasizing that flight cancellations are not taken lightly. He acknowledged the frustration such incidents cause for travelers and reiterated Delta’s commitment to connecting the world.
Bastian explained that a substantial portion of Delta’s operations relies on Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking that could not adapt to the unexpected shutdown. In response to the situation, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.