The Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer protection amid the company’s ongoing flight cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the right of airline passengers to fair treatment in a social media statement on Tuesday. He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s response to the outage.
Atlanta-based Delta has faced challenges in resuming full operations after a problematic software update executed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday, which affected businesses worldwide. A flaw in the update impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating system, rendering many corporate users unable to access their systems, with some experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident disrupted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and financial institutions. However, the airline and airport sectors experienced some of the most significant impacts. According to FlightAware, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 were canceled on Friday alone. Delta was the most affected airline.
Delta reported the cancellation of approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. FlightAware indicated that Delta canceled more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday and delayed another 3,441 flights. On Tuesday alone, the airline experienced 738 cancellations or delays.
“Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian in a statement on Sunday. He expressed his apologies to all affected customers, reaffirming that Delta is committed to connecting the world and understands the difficulties caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian mentioned that Delta relies on numerous applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking that was unable to adapt to the system’s failure. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.