The Department of Transportation is examining Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer protection as the airline continues to cancel flights following a major global tech outage last week.
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“All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will ensure that right is upheld,” stated Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on social media Tuesday. He mentioned that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the tech issues.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to restore operations fully after a failed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday impacted various businesses globally. A flaw in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving some corporate users without access and facing system crashes.
The incident cascaded across almost every major industry, severely affecting airlines and airports. On one particularly challenging day, Friday, more than 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta suffering the most.
The airline reported approximately 3,500 flight cancellations on Friday and Saturday, followed by over 2,500 cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
“Canceling a flight is always a last resort and a decision we do not take lightly,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian in a Sunday statement. “I apologize to every one of you who have been affected by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand the difficulties caused by travel disruptions.”
Bastian noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including a crew tracking tool that became unable to process due to the system failure. Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no additional cost and has also provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support.