The U.S. Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is properly addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations stemming from a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a social media statement, highlighting that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to return to normal operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected businesses worldwide. This defect specifically disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to vital systems and, in some cases, encountering the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had wide-ranging effects across numerous sectors, with airlines and airports particularly hard-hit. On the day of the outage alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant impact.
The airline canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with FlightAware reporting that more than 2,500 flights were canceled on Sunday and Monday, alongside another 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, an additional 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating that cancelling flights is a last resort for the airline. He acknowledged the challenges faced by passengers and reiterated Delta’s commitment to connecting the world.
Bastian noted that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including crucial tools for tracking crew operations, which were unable to adjust following the system outage. To assist affected customers, Delta has offered travel waivers allowing for free flight changes, in addition to meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.