The Department of Transportation is conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure passenger rights are being upheld, as the airline continues to cancel flights following a major tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment. He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced difficulties in restoring operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected various industries globally. This update had a negative impact on Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, disrupting access for many corporate users and causing significant issues.
The incident impacted numerous sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced substantial disruptions. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with an additional 5,171 cancellations reported by FlightAware. Delta was particularly affected, canceling about 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. The airline also canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, and delayed another 3,441. By Tuesday, 738 flights had already been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating that canceling flights is a last resort. He apologized to affected travelers and acknowledged the challenges of disrupted travel plans. Bastian mentioned that Delta relies on multiple applications using Microsoft Windows, including a crew management tool that was hindered by the system failures. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free changes to flights and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.