The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is prioritizing consumer rights as it continues to cancel flights following a global technical outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and emphasized his commitment to uphold this right. He mentioned that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, is still facing operational challenges days after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected businesses worldwide. This update disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing corporate users to lose access to their systems and, in some instances, encounter the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, with healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions being affected. However, the airline industry faced significant disruptions, with over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations occurring solely on Friday, as reported by FlightAware. Delta experienced the most considerable impact.
The airline canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with an additional 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had either been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating that cancelling a flight is always a last resort. He apologized to affected customers, reaffirming Delta’s mission to connect people globally and acknowledging the challenges caused by the service interruptions.
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on applications that operate on Microsoft Windows, including tools critical for crew tracking that failed due to the software shutdown. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.