The Department of Transportation has initiated an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns as it continues to experience flight cancellations following a recent global technology outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, stating, “I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that the department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta Air Lines, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced significant operational challenges in the days following a problematic software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday and disrupted various businesses worldwide. A flaw in the update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems and encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, with the airline sector particularly hard-hit. On Friday, FlightAware reported that over 46,000 flights were delayed and approximately 5,171 were canceled. Delta bore the brunt of these disruptions.
The airline announced that it canceled about 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. Additionally, Delta canceled more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, with another 3,441 flights delayed. By Tuesday, the airline had already canceled or delayed 738 flights.
In a statement, Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers, saying, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone impacted by these events.” He emphasized that Delta is committed to connecting the world and understands the difficulties posed by travel disruptions.
Bastian explained that many of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a tool for tracking crew members that malfunctioned due to the system failure. To assist affected customers, Delta has issued a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.