The U.S. Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer needs following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global tech outage that occurred last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the rights of airline passengers on social media, stating, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of these tech-related disruptions.
Delta, based in Atlanta, is facing operational challenges days after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday and affected businesses worldwide. A flaw in the update disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users unable to access their systems and, in some instances, experiencing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of this incident was felt across nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. The airline sector was particularly hard hit, with over 46,000 flights delayed and around 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the worst disruptions.
Delta reported canceling approximately 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday, with more than 2,500 cancellations occurring on Sunday and Monday, in addition to 3,441 delayed flights. By Tuesday, the airline had already canceled or delayed 738 flights, as indicated by FlightAware.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by these cancellations, 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.” He acknowledged that the airline relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including tools necessary for crew tracking, which were unable to process changes due to the system shutdown. Delta has implemented a travel waiver, allowing customers to change their flights at no extra cost, in addition to providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.