The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer protection as the airline continues to experience flight cancellations stemming from a recent global tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, and he is committed to upholding that principle. He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions caused by the outage.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has struggled to return to normal operations following a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late last Thursday. This update had significant repercussions, affecting Microsoft’s Windows operating systems and leaving many corporate users without access to their systems, some even facing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every industry, disrupting healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions. Airlines, however, were particularly hard hit; on Friday alone, FlightAware reported over 46,000 delayed flights and 5,171 cancellations, with Delta being the most affected airline.
On Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights. The airline also canceled over 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441 on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had either been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the flight cancellations, stating that they are always a last resort and should not be taken lightly. He apologized to all those affected by the disruptions, reiterating that Delta aims to connect the world and understands the difficulties posed by travel interruptions.
Bastian mentioned that Delta relies on numerous applications running on Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that failed to adapt due to the system shutdown. To assist customers impacted by these events, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.