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 cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
In a statement on social media, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, and he aims to ensure that this right is maintained. He noted that the department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the recent disruptions.
Delta, which is based in Atlanta, has struggled to return to full operational capacity after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected companies worldwide. The defect in the update interfered with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems, with some experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly all major industries, including healthcare, delivery, retail, and financial services, but airlines and airports were among the hardest hit. Over 46,000 flights were delayed and more than 5,171 were canceled on a single day, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most considerable impact.
On Friday and Saturday alone, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights. The airline reported over 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with more than 3,400 delays. As of Tuesday, FlightAware indicated that 738 flights had already been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated that canceling flights is always a last resort and not a decision taken lightly. He expressed his apologies to those affected by these events, reiterating that Delta’s mission is to connect people worldwide and acknowledging the difficulties caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian mentioned that Delta relies on a “significant number of applications” that run on Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking that was unable to adapt to the changes due to the system shutdown. In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights without fees, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.