The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure compliance with consumer protection standards, as the airline faces a wave of flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg affirmed on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, pledging to uphold that right. He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has struggled to restore full operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted companies worldwide. This update specifically affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users dealing with significant system access issues.
The incident disrupted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, logistics, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports faced the worst effects. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 flights were canceled, with Delta experiencing the most significant challenges.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday alone. On Sunday and Monday, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed an additional 3,441. As of Tuesday, there have already been 738 cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating that canceling flights is a measure taken only as a last resort. He acknowledged the hardships travelers faced due to these cancellations, pledging that Delta aims to connect the world.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on numerous applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including tools essential for tracking crew schedules, which were hindered by the system failure. To assist affected customers, Delta has introduced a travel waiver that allows free flight changes, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.