The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is effectively addressing consumer needs as it continues to cancel flights following a significant global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for all airline passengers in a statement posted on social media Tuesday. He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the outage.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been facing challenges in resuming normal operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted various businesses worldwide. A critical issue in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users experiencing significant disruptions, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The ramifications of the incident were widespread, affecting nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. However, the airline industry suffered particularly severe setbacks, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta was among the most affected airlines.
The airline reported canceling around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. FlightAware data indicated that Delta canceled more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday and delayed an additional 3,441. On Tuesday, the airline experienced further disruptions with 738 flights either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian addressed the situation, stating that canceling flights is seen as a last resort and is not a decision taken lightly. He apologized to all passengers affected by the disruptions, reaffirming Delta’s commitment to connecting people and acknowledging the challenges of travel disruptions.
Bastian mentioned that Delta relies on a numerous applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking system that was impacted by the outage. To mitigate the impact on customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.