The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that the airline is prioritizing consumer rights following a series of flight cancellations resulting from a global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will ensure that right is upheld.” He indicated that the department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the recent technological failures.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming full operations days after a problematic software update from the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected numerous businesses worldwide. The update caused significant issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users struggling with access to their systems, including incidents of the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The disruption impacted nearly every major industry, with airlines and airports experiencing the most severe consequences. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and approximately 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware data, with Delta being the hardest hit.
Over the course of Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled about 3,500 flights. The airline recorded more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, alongside an additional 3,441 delayed flights. As of Tuesday, 738 flights were reported canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement, saying, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian explained that Delta relies on various applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including tools essential for tracking crew operations that were unable to adapt during the system shutdown. In response to the situation, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no cost, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.