The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld, as the airline faces ongoing flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for all airline passengers in a statement shared on social media. He mentioned that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the technical issues.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to resume normal operations after a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted businesses worldwide on Thursday. This flawed update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access and dealing with a severe system error known as the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread ramifications across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines were particularly hard-hit; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and approximately 5,171 were canceled, as reported by FlightAware. Delta experienced the most significant impact.
The airline reported canceling about 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. Over the weekend, Delta canceled more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, adding to another 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 flights have already faced cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement on Sunday, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected by these disruptions.” He acknowledged that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows for many applications, including a tool for tracking crew members that was hindered by the system failures.
To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.