The Department of Transportation is currently looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that consumer rights are being upheld amid the ongoing issue of flight cancellations following last week’s widespread tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed on social media that all airline passengers are entitled to fair treatment, emphasizing his commitment to uphold this right. He noted that the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the tech disruptions.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has struggled to return to normal operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike impacted numerous businesses globally. A defect in this update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users without access and, in some cases, facing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a significant impact across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines, in particular, experienced severe disruptions, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and 5,171 canceled on just one Friday, according to FlightAware. Delta was among the hardest hit.
The airline reported canceling around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, with over 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with 3,441 delays. By Tuesday, 738 flights had also been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated on Sunday that canceling flights is always a last resort and not a decision taken lightly. He apologized to all those affected, underscoring Delta’s mission to connect the world and recognizing the challenges posed by travel disruptions.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on numerous applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, including a tool for crew tracking that couldn’t adapt to the shutdown. In response to the situation, Delta has issued a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no cost, as well as providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.