The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is addressing consumer issues following a series of flight cancellations resulting from a global technology outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers have the right to fair treatment, and he is committed to upholding that right. He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the outages.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to restore full operations days after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread disruptions. This update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems, with some experiencing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of the outage was felt across nearly all major industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports experienced particularly severe effects, with more than 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations on a single day, according to FlightAware. Delta was among the most affected carriers.
The airline reported canceling about 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with additional cancellations of over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, along with 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, FlightAware indicated that 738 flights had been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the disruptions, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He apologized to all those affected, reaffirming Delta’s commitment to connecting the world and acknowledging the challenges when travel plans are disrupted.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on a “significant number of applications” that utilize Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool hindered by the system shutdown. In response, Delta has instituted a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge, in addition to offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.