The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer rights, following a series of flight cancellations triggered by a recent global tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating on social media that he is committed to upholding these rights. He noted that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to restore operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected various businesses worldwide, including a flaw that impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This left many corporate users facing significant disruptions, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident caused widespread delays and cancellations across multiple sectors, with airlines and airports particularly hard-hit. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed, and about 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant impact.
Delta reported canceling around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, with over 2,500 cancellations recorded on Sunday and Monday, along with 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, another 738 flights had also been canceled or delayed.
In response to the disruptions, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the inconvenience caused, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort. He acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers and noted that many of Delta’s operations rely heavily on Microsoft’s systems. The airline has introduced a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights at no additional cost, in addition to offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.