The Department of Transportation is examining Delta Air Lines to guarantee it is adequately addressing consumer needs, particularly as the airline continues to cancel flights following a substantial global technology outage last week.
The outage, attributed to a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, significantly disrupted operations for Delta. This incident, which affected Microsoft’s Windows systems, left corporate clients unable to access essential services, with many experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers in a social media statement, noting that his department has been inundated with complaints regarding Delta’s response to the tech failures.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has faced considerable challenges in resuming full service since the incident. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, with an additional 5,171 cancellations reported, as indicated by data from FlightAware. Delta experienced the most disruptions, canceling around 3,500 flights over the weekend, with more than 2,500 cancellations occurring on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, the airline reported another 738 flights either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the inconveniences caused, stating that flight cancellations are always a last resort. He acknowledged the difficulties travelers face when their plans are disrupted, highlighting that Delta’s operations rely heavily on numerous applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, which were affected by the outage. In response, Delta is offering a travel waiver for customers to change their flights at no charge, along with meal vouchers and hotel accommodations.