The U.S. Department of Transportation is conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to verify that the airline is adequately addressing consumer rights amid a wave of flight cancellations linked to a global technology outage from last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, emphasizing his commitment to this principle. He noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation following the tech issues.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced significant operational challenges following a problematic software update by CrowdStrike, which was implemented late Thursday. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users facing significant delays and problems, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of this incident was widespread, affecting many sectors including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and finance. Airlines and airports were particularly hard hit; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, and more than 5,000 were canceled, according to data from FlightAware, with Delta being the most severely affected.
Delta announced it canceled roughly 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, with more than 2,500 additional cancellations on Sunday and Monday, alongside over 3,400 delays. By Tuesday, the airline had already recorded 738 cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruption caused to travelers, stating that canceling flights is a last resort. He explained that a wide range of Delta’s operational applications rely on Microsoft Windows, specifically mentioning a crew tracking tool that was unable to adapt due to the system shutdown. To support its customers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation solutions.