The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld as the airline continues to face flight cancellations following last week’s widespread tech outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg made a statement on social media asserting that “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation after the tech disruptions.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has struggled to return to normal operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike led to issues affecting businesses globally. This update created a defect in Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to their systems and dealing with serious errors.
The incident had widespread consequences, impacting various sectors including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines experiencing significant setbacks. On a single day, Friday, more than 46,000 flights were delayed and around 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being particularly hard hit.
The airline reported that it canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. Over the following two days, Delta canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441. On Tuesday alone, there were 738 additional cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly… I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He emphasized Delta’s role in connecting travelers and acknowledged the disruptions caused.
Bastian explained that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial crew tracking tool that was unable to adjust due to the system failures. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without charge and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support.