The Department of Transportation is conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld, as the airline continues to face numerous flight cancellations following a global tech outage that occurred 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.” He noted the department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the technical failures.
Based in Atlanta, Delta has struggled to fully restore its operations following a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday and affected various businesses globally. The issue with the update disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users facing access problems and encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, from healthcare providers and delivery services to retailers and financial institutions. Airlines, however, were particularly hard hit, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to data from FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant disruptions.
Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights across its network on Friday and Saturday, followed by over 2,500 cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, nearly 738 flights had already been affected.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the disruptions, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone who has been impacted by these events.” He acknowledged the challenge travelers face when their plans are disrupted.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on a large number of applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including a crew-tracking tool that was unable to handle updates due to the tech outage. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.