The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adhering to consumer protection standards amid ongoing flight cancellations linked to a recent global tech outage.
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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating on social media, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” This statement followed reports of “hundreds of complaints” received by the department regarding Delta’s handling of the recent tech disruptions.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to restore full operations following a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The update released late Thursday negatively impacted Microsoft’s Windows systems, leaving many corporate users facing accessibility issues, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a wide-ranging impact, affecting nearly every major industry, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard hit, with over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta suffering the most.
On Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights and reported over 2,500 cancellations on the following Sunday and Monday, along with more than 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, the airline experienced an additional 738 cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly,” and extended a heartfelt apology to affected passengers. He acknowledged that the airline plays a crucial role in global connectivity and understands the challenges posed by travel disruptions.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on various applications using Microsoft Windows, including one related to crew tracking, which was unable to adjust due to the system outage. As part of their response, Delta has issued a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights at no cost and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.