The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure it is adequately addressing consumer concerns amid ongoing flight cancellations following a recent global tech malfunction.
Microsoft has shifted responsibility back to Delta regarding the IT outage that affected the airline and numerous businesses globally. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and that he is committed to upholding that right. He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the tech disruptions.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming normal operations days after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread issues last Thursday. A defect in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and confronting the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced some of the most significant disruptions. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with an additional 5,171 cancellations reported by FlightAware. Delta was particularly affected, canceling around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. The airline canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, with delays affecting an additional 3,441 flights. On Tuesday alone, 738 flights faced cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the disruptions, stating that canceling flights is a last resort and not something taken lightly. He offered apologies to all those impacted, reaffirming Delta’s mission to connect the world and acknowledging the challenges caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian highlighted that a significant number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking that struggled to adapt due to the system shutdown. In response, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without fees, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.