The Department of Transportation is currently examining Delta Air Lines to ensure that it is adequately addressing consumer concerns amid ongoing flight cancellations following a global technology failure last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and pledged to uphold their rights. He noted that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the tech outages.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, is struggling to return to normal operations after a faulty software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread disruptions. This issue affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a far-reaching impact on various sectors, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and finance, but the aviation industry suffered particularly. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed and approximately 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the highest number of disruptions.
The airline canceled around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday alone. Additionally, over 2,500 flights were canceled on Sunday and Monday, while 3,441 flights were delayed. By Tuesday, Delta reported 738 flights either canceled or delayed.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, acknowledged the impact of these disruptions in a statement on Sunday, emphasizing that flight cancellations are taken seriously and are considered a last resort. He apologized to all customers affected by the situation, reiterating Delta’s commitment to connecting the world amid the challenges of travel disruptions.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on numerous applications using Microsoft Windows, including a crucial tool for tracking crew members, which was unable to function due to the system outage. In response to the disruption, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without fees, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.