The Department of Transportation is conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is properly addressing consumer needs following a series of flight cancellations stemming from a recent global tech outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized passengers’ rights to fair treatment, stating on social media, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” This comes after the department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming normal operations after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted various industries worldwide. Issues in the update adversely affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving numerous corporate users unable to access their systems and experiencing significant disruptions.
The incident impacted almost every major sector, but airlines and airports were particularly affected. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 were canceled, as reported by FlightAware, with Delta facing the most significant impact.
On Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled around 3,500 flights. Subsequent cancellations included more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, as well as an additional 3,441 delays. By Tuesday, 738 flights had already been canceled or delayed, according to FlightAware.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement, 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 impacted by these events.” Bastian explained that a significant number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including crucial tools for managing crew schedules that were disrupted by the outage. In response, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no cost and has offered meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.