The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that it is properly addressing consumer concerns, as the airline continues to cancel flights following a major global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the rights of airline passengers, stating on social media that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, which is based in Atlanta, has been struggling to restore operations after a problematic software update initiated by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted various businesses worldwide, including the Microsoft Windows operating system. This led to corporate users experiencing system access issues and, in some cases, faced the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The disruption had a widespread impact across numerous industries, affecting healthcare providers, retail companies, delivery services, and financial institutions. Airlines and airports particularly bore the brunt of the outage, with over 46,000 flight delays and approximately 5,171 cancellations reported on just Friday, as per FlightAware data. Delta was notably the hardest hit.
The airline canceled around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, and according to FlightAware, it canceled more than 2,500 flights during Sunday and Monday, in addition to delaying another 3,441. As of Tuesday, 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian highlighted that Delta relies on a “significant number of applications” utilizing Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking that were unable to adjust to the unexpected system shutdown. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing for free changes to flights, along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.