The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure it is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations stemming from a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the rights of airline passengers, stating on social media, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” This follows reports that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has faced significant challenges in restoring normal operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread disruptions. The update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and experiencing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a cascading effect across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. However, the airline industry was particularly hard-hit, with over 46,000 flights delayed and an additional 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, as reported by FlightAware. Delta was most severely impacted, canceling approximately 3,500 flights over the weekend, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, the disruptions continued with 738 flights either canceled or delayed.
In a statement, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, 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 noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for various applications, including tools for tracking crew operations, which were affected by the system failure. To assist impacted customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.