The Department of Transportation is investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is properly addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a statement on social media, noting that the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has struggled to resume normal operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday and adversely affected businesses worldwide. A flaw in the update interfered with Microsoft’s Windows systems, leaving many corporate users without access and struggling with severe issues.
The incident had a widespread impact across various industries, notably affecting sectors like healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines faced particularly significant disruptions, with over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta was one of the most affected airlines.
The company canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, followed by over 2,500 cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, 738 additional flights had been either canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret over the cancellations, describing them as a last resort. He apologized to all passengers affected by the disruptions, reiterating that Delta is committed to connecting people and acknowledging the challenges caused by travel interruptions.
Bastian highlighted that Delta relies on various applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that was hindered by the system outage. To support customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing passengers to change flights without fees, in addition to offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.