The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that consumer rights are being upheld following the airline’s extensive flight cancellations linked to a global tech outage from the previous week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the situation on social media, stating, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He added that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the incident.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming its operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected multiple businesses worldwide. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving some corporate users unable to access their systems and facing critical failures.
The disruption impacted nearly every major industry, from healthcare to finance, with transportation being particularly hard hit. On a single day, Friday, more than 46,000 flights were delayed and over 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware data, with Delta’s operations suffering the most.
Over the weekend, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights, with an additional 2,500 cancellations reported on Sunday and Monday, alongside 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, FlightAware recorded 738 flights affected by cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian issued an apology to those affected, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort for the airline. He noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including tools essential for tracking crew members, which were disrupted by the software issues. In response, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights at no cost, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.