The Department of Transportation is currently probing Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer protections are in place, following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global tech outage that occurred last week. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers, citing that his department had picked up “hundreds of complaints” about Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming its operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which affected various businesses globally. This update revealed flaws impacting Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in significant operational disruptions for corporate users.
The tech incident significantly impacted numerous sectors—particularly airlines, with Delta experiencing the most severe fallout. On a single day, Friday, there were over 46,000 flight delays and 5,171 cancellations reported by FlightAware, with Delta cancellations reaching approximately 3,500 on Friday and Saturday alone. The airline continued to struggle over the following days, canceling more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday and delaying an additional 3,441 flights. By Tuesday, the disruptions continued, with 738 flights either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the inconveniences caused, stating that cancellation is always a last resort for the airline. He reassured travelers that Delta is committed to connecting people around the world and recognizes the challenges when travel plans are interrupted. To assist affected passengers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transport options.