The Department of Transportation is examining Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld as the airline continues to face cancellations following a global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, emphasizing the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the tech disruptions.
Delta, based in Atlanta, is struggling to restore its operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread business impacts. This update significantly affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving numerous corporate users unable to access their systems, with some encountering the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a widespread impact across many industries, including healthcare, delivery, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports suffered severe consequences, experiencing over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations just on Friday, according to FlightAware, with Delta experiencing the most significant fallout.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday and reported over 2,500 cancellations and 3,441 delays on Sunday and Monday. By Tuesday, an additional 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret towards customers affected by the disruptions, stating that canceling a flight is a last resort. He acknowledged the difficulties caused by the travel disturbances and noted that Delta heavily relies on Microsoft Windows for various applications, including one crucial for crew tracking that couldn’t handle the shutdown’s changes. To assist affected customers, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing free flight changes, as well as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.