The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the company is adequately addressing consumer concerns following numerous flight cancellations prompted by a global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation 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.” Buttigieg revealed that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the technical issues.
The Atlanta-based airline has struggled to restore its operations days after a problematic software update conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The update, which inadvertently affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, left many corporate users unable to access their systems, with some even encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread repercussions, impacting various industries including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. The airline sector, however, experienced significant disruption, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and an additional 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, as reported by FlightAware. Delta was particularly hard hit, canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. By Sunday and Monday, the airline had canceled over 2,500 more flights and delayed another 3,441. As of Tuesday, FlightAware indicated that 738 flights had already been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He apologized to all those affected and reiterated Delta’s commitment to connecting travelers despite operational challenges.
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including tools for tracking crew members, which were hindered by the system disruption. To alleviate the situation for customers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation services.