The Department of Transportation is examining Delta Air Lines to ensure it is adequately addressing consumer needs in light of the airline’s ongoing flight cancellations following a global tech failure last week.
Transportation Secretary 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 numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the tech outages.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has struggled to restore its operations days after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday and affected businesses worldwide. This update led to issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many users with inaccessible systems and, in some instances, facing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident broadly impacted various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with the aviation industry suffering significantly. On a single day, Friday, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, and another 5,171 were canceled, as reported by FlightAware. Delta Airlines faced the most substantial impact.
The airline reported the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. Furthermore, it canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday and delayed an additional 3,441 flights. As of Tuesday, the situation had not improved, with 738 flights already canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret for the disruption, 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. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian explained that the airline relies on numerous applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including critical tools for tracking crew members, which were rendered inoperable due to the system issues. To assist affected customers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, alongside offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.