The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns amid a series of flight cancellations that followed a global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, and he is committed to ensuring that this right is upheld. He noted that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the tech disruptions.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has struggled to return to normal operations after a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted businesses worldwide. This update included a defect affecting Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, which left numerous corporate users unable to access their systems and facing issues such as the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The fallout from this incident was widespread, affecting various industries, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and financial institutions. Airlines, particularly Delta, faced significant challenges, with FlightAware reporting over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations on Friday alone.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, and according to FlightAware, more than 2,500 flights were canceled on Sunday and Monday, with an additional 3,441 delayed. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had already been canceled or delayed.
In a statement on Sunday, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the disruptions, emphasizing that canceling flights is always a last resort. He apologized to affected travelers, highlighting that Delta’s mission is to connect the world and acknowledging the difficulties caused by travel interruptions.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on numerous applications that operate on Microsoft Windows, including a crucial crew tracking tool that struggled to adapt due to the system shutdown. To assist impacted travelers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights without incurring fees and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.