The Department of Transportation is investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure that consumer rights are upheld as the airline continues to cancel flights following a global tech outage that occurred last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and highlighted that his department has received numerous complaints about Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to fully resume operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread business disruptions. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users without access to their systems and facing issues such as the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a significant impact across various industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports suffered notably, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and over 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta the most notably affected.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with FlightAware indicating that the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441 on Sunday and Monday. By Tuesday, the airline had already canceled or delayed 738 flights.
In response, Delta CEO Ed Bastian apologized on Sunday to all passengers affected by these disruptions, emphasizing that canceling flights is a last resort. He acknowledged the challenges of travel disruptions and noted that Delta is committed to connecting the world.
Bastian explained that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including a crew tracking system that was unable to adjust due to the system failure. In light of the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights free of charge and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.