The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are upheld, following a series of flight cancellations that occurred after a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment. He noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, which is based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring its operations after a significant software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday. This update negatively affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and encountering issues such as the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread repercussions across multiple industries, impacting healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard-hit; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and about 5,171 were canceled, with Delta experiencing the most disruptions.
On both Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled around 3,500 flights. Reports indicate that the airline canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, with an additional 3,441 delays. By Tuesday, flight cancellations and delays accounted for 738 flights.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology to those affected, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He expressed the company’s understanding of the difficulties disrupt travel can create.
Bastian elaborated that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many applications, including a crucial crew tracking tool that could not cope with the disruptions caused by the system failure. To assist passengers, Delta has initiated a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights at no cost, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation services.