The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is properly addressing consumer concerns following ongoing flight cancellations linked to a global technology outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a social media statement on Tuesday, highlighting that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the technical issues.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming normal operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected global businesses. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users experiencing significant disruptions.
The incident had a widespread impact across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard-hit; on Friday, FlightAware reported more than 46,000 flight delays and over 5,000 cancellations. Delta was among the most affected airlines.
The airline canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. Additionally, Delta canceled over 2,500 flights from Sunday to Monday, with 3,441 delays reported. By Tuesday, there were already 738 more cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed his regret on Sunday, 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 acknowledged the airline’s role in connecting people and the challenges faced when travel plans are upended.
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including one for crew tracking, which was unable to function properly due to the system outage. To assist affected travelers, Delta has rolled out a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.