The Department of Transportation is examining Delta Air Lines to ensure that the company is adequately addressing consumer issues following a series of flight cancellations triggered by a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a statement on social media. He noted that the department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in fully resuming operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected businesses worldwide. The update created issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and encountering the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had widespread impacts across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and financial institutions, with airlines and airports being particularly hard-hit. On one day alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed and over 5,171 canceled, as reported by FlightAware, with Delta experiencing severe disruption.
The airline canceled roughly 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, and according to FlightAware, over 2,500 cancellations occurred on Sunday and Monday, alongside 3,441 delays. On Tuesday, Delta faced further flight cancellations and delays, with 738 reported.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the scale of the disruptions, stating that canceling flights is always a last resort. He expressed regret to affected travelers, reinforcing that Delta’s mission is to connect people and that disruptions to travel can be particularly challenging.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on numerous applications dependent on Microsoft Windows, including essential tools for crew tracking that were disrupted by the system failure. To assist impacted customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.