The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is appropriately addressing consumer concerns following a spate of flight cancellations linked to a recent global tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating on social media, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted the department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the technical issues.
Delta, which is based in Atlanta, has struggled to resume normal operations following a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This update, executed late Thursday, caused disruptions for businesses worldwide. A flaw in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and, in some cases, encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a widespread impact across various industries, with healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions also affected. Airlines were particularly hard hit, with FlightAware reporting over 46,000 delayed flights and 5,171 cancellations on Friday alone. Delta faced the most significant disruptions.
The airline reported around 3,500 flight cancellations over Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with an additional 3,441 delays. By Tuesday, Delta had already canceled or delayed 738 flights.
Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over 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 explained that a significant portion of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking that could not adapt to the system failures. In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change flights at no cost and has also provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.