The Department of Transportation is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure that consumer rights are being protected as the airline continues to cancel flights following a significant global tech outage last week.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that “all airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” He noted that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to restore full service after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected numerous businesses worldwide last Thursday. A flaw in the update impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, resulting in corporate users facing system access issues and the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident affected nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines and airports experienced particularly severe disruptions; on one day alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed and 5,171 canceled, per FlightAware. Delta was among the hardest hit, canceling approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, followed by over 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, and an additional 738 cancellations or delays reported by Tuesday.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated on Sunday, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone who has been impacted by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it can be when your travels are disrupted.”
Bastian explained that Delta relies on a significant number of applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool that couldn’t adapt to the shutdown’s changes. In response to the disruptions, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no extra cost, as well as offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.