The Department of Transportation is investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is properly addressing consumer needs, amidst ongoing flight cancellations that have followed last week’s global tech outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the rights of airline passengers to be treated fairly in a statement on social media, mentioning that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation related to the tech failures.
Atlanta-based Delta has faced significant challenges in resuming normal operations after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted businesses globally. The faulty update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing many corporate users to lose access and some to experience the critical error known as the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with airlines and airports experiencing severe repercussions. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being the airline most affected.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over the weekend. FlightAware indicated that Delta canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, while also delaying 3,441 others. On Tuesday, 738 flights were again reported as canceled or delayed.
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.” He acknowledged the considerable disruption to travelers and reiterated Delta’s commitment to connecting the world.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on a number of applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including one for crew tracking that was unable to adapt to the system disruptions. In response to the ongoing challenges, Delta has announced a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without charge, alongside providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.