The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the company is adequately addressing consumer concerns following its ongoing flight cancellations linked to a recent global technological outage.
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Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a statement shared on social media, noting the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted various industries worldwide. The update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users experiencing system access problems.
The widespread outage affected nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports experienced particularly severe repercussions, with FlightAware reporting over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations occurring just on Friday. Delta was significantly impacted, canceling approximately 3,500 flights over the weekend.
On Sunday and Monday, Delta canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441. As of Tuesday, there have already been 738 cancellations or delays reported.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed his regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers, asserting that canceling a flight is always a last resort. He acknowledged the difficulties faced by travelers due to the disruptions.
Bastian further explained that Delta heavily relies on numerous applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a crucial tool for crew tracking that malfunctioned due to the system failure. In response to the situation, Delta has rolled out a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without charge and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.