The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations stemming from a recent global technology outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the need for fair treatment of airline passengers, stating, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” This statement follows reports of “hundreds of complaints” his department has received regarding Delta’s response to the tech issues.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, is still working to restore full operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread disruptions last week. A flaw in this update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many users—especially in corporate environments—facing significant access issues, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The repercussions of this incident were felt across various industries, but airlines and airports were particularly hard-hit. On Friday, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, and 5,171 were canceled, as reported by FlightAware, with Delta being the most affected airline.
Delta announced it had to cancel around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. On Sunday and Monday, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed an additional 3,441. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had already been canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He extended apologies to those impacted by the situation and acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers due to these disruptions. Bastian also noted that Delta relies on a significant number of Microsoft Windows applications, including tools for crew tracking that were unable to handle the changes resulting from the outage. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.