The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is meeting consumer needs as it continues to cancel flights following last week’s global technological outage.
“All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld,” stated Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on social media Tuesday. He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the tech issues.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to return to full operational capacity days after a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday affected numerous businesses globally. A flaw in the update impacted Microsoft’s Windows systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access critical systems and experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident disrupted nearly every major industry, including healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions, but airlines and airports faced some of the worst impacts. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being particularly affected.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday and reported more than 2,500 flight cancellations over Sunday and Monday, in addition to 3,441 delayed flights. As of Tuesday, there have already been 738 flights either canceled or delayed, as per FlightAware.
“Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed in a statement on Sunday. “I want to apologize to everyone affected by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how challenging it is when your travel plans are interrupted.”
Bastian added that Delta relies on a “significant number of applications” utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking that could not adjust due to the system outage. The airline has introduced a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights without charge, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.