The U.S. Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to assess its handling of consumer rights amid ongoing flight cancellations following a significant global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, stating on social media that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the incident.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in restoring its operations after a problematic software update implemented by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected countless businesses globally. A flaw in the update disrupted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leading corporate users to experience issues, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech failure impacted nearly every major industry, particularly airlines and airports. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and around 5,171 were canceled, as reported by FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant disruptions.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday and reported more than 2,500 additional cancellations along with 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had also been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the difficulties caused by these cancellations, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly.” He expressed his apologies to affected customers, reiterating Delta’s mission to connect travelers worldwide.
Bastian noted that a vast number of the airline’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including tools for crew tracking that were unable to function due to the system shutdown. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation services.