The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following an ongoing series of flight cancellations attributed to a recent global tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the rights of airline passengers, stating on social media that his department has received numerous complaints about Delta’s handling of the situation.
Based in Atlanta, Delta has struggled to resume normal operations after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday disrupted various industries worldwide. A flaw in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems, with some experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The outage had a widespread impact, affecting sectors such as healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports, however, faced some of the severest disruptions, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and over 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta experienced the most significant impact.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with over 2,500 flights called off again on Sunday and Monday, and an additional 3,441 delayed. By Tuesday, the airline had already canceled or delayed 738 flights, according to FlightAware.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology to affected travelers, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. 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 on a significant number of applications running on Microsoft Windows, including systems crucial for crew tracking that were unable to adjust following the shutdown. To assist impacted customers, Delta has rolled out a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.