The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following numerous flight cancellations linked to a global tech outage from last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized consumers’ rights in a statement, assuring that he would protect these rights. He mentioned that the department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to restore operations after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday. This update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, disrupting access for corporate users and causing widespread technical failures.
The outage impacted various sectors, including healthcare, delivery, retail, and finance, but the airline industry faced especially severe consequences. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with an additional 5,171 cancellations reported by FlightAware. Delta was particularly affected.
The airline announced it canceled around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, FlightAware reported another 738 flights delayed or canceled.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort. He stressed the company’s commitment to connecting the world and acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers. Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many applications, including some for crew tracking, which were unable to function due to the outage. In response, Delta has provided a travel waiver for customers to change flights at no cost, as well as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.