The U.S. Department of Transportation is examining Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is properly addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global technology outage last week.
In a statement on social media, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and that he would ensure those rights are respected. He noted that the Department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the tech disruptions.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in fully restoring its operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday severely impacted businesses globally. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving several corporate users unable to access their systems and facing significant errors.
The incident had widespread repercussions, affecting nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports were particularly hard-hit; on Friday alone, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, and an additional 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware. Delta was among the most affected.
According to Delta, approximately 3,500 flights were canceled on Friday and Saturday. Over the weekend, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441 on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had already been reported as canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruption, 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 Delta relies on a considerable number of applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking that was unable to manage necessary changes due to the system outage. To support affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, alongside providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.