The U.S. Department of Transportation is examining Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld as the airline faces ongoing flight cancellations following a recent global tech failure.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized in a social media statement that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, revealing that his department has received numerous complaints about Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, is struggling to restore its operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday disrupted various businesses worldwide. This issue impacted Microsoft’s Windows systems, leading many corporate users to experience significant access problems, including the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident affected nearly all major sectors, including healthcare, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports were particularly hard hit. On Friday alone, FlightAware reported over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations, with Delta being the most affected airline.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday and reported more than 2,500 cancellations between Sunday and Monday, alongside 3,441 delays. By Tuesday, an additional 738 flights had either been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He apologized to the customers affected, reinforcing Delta’s commitment to connecting people and recognizing the challenges posed by travel disruptions.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on numerous applications using Microsoft Windows, including a crew-tracking tool that could not adapt to the disruptions caused by the system downtime. To assist travelers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver, allowing customers to change flights at no extra charge, and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support.