The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld, as the airline continues to cancel flights following a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of treating all airline passengers fairly, noting that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced significant operational challenges after a software update by the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike on Thursday malfunctioned, affecting businesses globally. The update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users experiencing significant access problems, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech outage disrupted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery, retail, and finance, with airlines being particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and an additional 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta suffering the most severe impact.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, and by Sunday and Monday, the airline had canceled more than 2,500 flights while also delaying another 3,441. As of Tuesday, there were already reports of 738 flights being canceled or delayed.
In a statement on Sunday, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian explained that Delta relies on a number of applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking that were unable to adapt to the unexpected system shutdown. To assist affected customers, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support.