The Department of Transportation is probing Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being respected as the airline continues to cancel flights following a global technology failure last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers are entitled to fair treatment, stating that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring its operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted businesses worldwide. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems, often encountering the dreaded “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports suffered the greatest consequences. On a single day, more than 46,000 flights experienced delays, and 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant disruptions.
Delta announced the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. The airline canceled over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday and delayed an additional 3,441 flights. By Tuesday, the disruptions included 738 more canceled or delayed flights, according to FlightAware.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the situation in a statement, asserting that cancellation is a “last resort” and expressing regret to affected travelers. He highlighted that Delta heavily relies on numerous applications based on Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking that were unable to handle changes due to the system outage. In response to the challenges, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights for free and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.