The Department of Transportation is probing Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer needs amid ongoing flight cancellations following a recent global tech outage.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating he would ensure that consumer rights are upheld. He noted that the department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to resume normal operations after a software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike went awry last week, disrupting businesses worldwide. This faulty update adversely impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech incident affected nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports experienced significant disruptions, with FlightAware reporting over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations on Friday alone, with Delta suffering the most from these outages.
In total, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. The airline canceled more than 2,500 additional flights on Sunday and Monday, along with around 3,441 delays. As of Tuesday, 738 additional flights have been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the impact on travelers, describing flight cancellations as a last resort. He acknowledged the airline’s reliance on many Microsoft Windows applications, including a crucial crew tracking tool that failed due to the system issues. To assist affected customers, Delta has offered a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, as well as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and alternative transportation.