The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that the company is properly addressing consumer rights amid ongoing flight cancellations that were triggered by a recent global tech failure.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for 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.” He had earlier mentioned that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, which is headquartered in Atlanta, has faced significant challenges in resuming full operations following a faulty software update by CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm, that occurred late last Thursday. The update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and causing issues such as the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech outage impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines suffered the most. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with an additional 5,171 cancellations reported, according to FlightAware. Delta experienced the most significant disruptions.
Delta announced the cancellation of around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, with more than 2,500 additional cancellations on Sunday and Monday, alongside nearly 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, the situation continued with 738 flights either canceled or delayed, as reported by FlightAware.
“We do not take the decision to cancel a flight lightly. It is always a last resort,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated in an apology to those affected by the cancellations. He acknowledged the challenges travelers face when their plans are disrupted, affirming Delta’s commitment to connecting people.
Bastian revealed that Delta relies on numerous applications using Microsoft Windows, including one for crew tracking, which failed to function correctly due to the system outage. To assist affected customers, Delta has issued a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, as well as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.