The Department of Transportation is currently looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is meeting consumer needs amid ongoing flight cancellations linked to last week’s global technology failure.
In a statement on social media Tuesday, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg expressed that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and vowed to uphold that right. He mentioned that the department had received a significant number of complaints regarding Delta’s response to the tech issues.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced significant challenges in resuming its operations following a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that occurred late Thursday. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in many corporate users experiencing system accessibility issues, notably the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of the incident was widespread, affecting numerous industries including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines faced particularly severe disruptions. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with an additional 5,171 cancellations recorded, as reported by FlightAware. Delta was particularly hard hit.
According to Delta, the airline canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, and by Sunday and Monday, it had canceled more than 2,500 flights while delaying another 3,441. Disruptions continued into Tuesday, with 738 flights canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian apologized to affected travelers, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and we do not take it lightly.” He acknowledged the challenges travelers face when their plans are interrupted and emphasized Delta’s commitment to connecting the world.
Bastian noted that a significant number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking that was unable to adapt to the changes caused by the outage. In response to the situation, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge, alongside providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.