The Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer concerns following a series of flight cancellations that emerged after a global tech outage last week.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that ensuring fairness for airline passengers is a priority and confirmed that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has faced significant challenges in restoring operations after a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday affected numerous businesses worldwide. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users without access and encountering the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident triggered widespread disruptions, impacting nearly every major sector, including healthcare, retail, delivery services, and finance. However, airlines and airports experienced some of the most severe consequences. FlightAware reported that over 46,000 flights were delayed and another 5,171 were canceled on just Friday. Delta was particularly hard-hit, with approximately 3,500 flight cancellations across its operations on Friday and Saturday. Following this, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441 on Sunday and Monday alone. Already on Tuesday, 738 flights have been reported as canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating that canceling flights is a last resort. He apologized to all customers affected by the incidents and reaffirmed Delta’s commitment to connecting the world.
Bastian indicated that a number of Delta’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, including a tool for tracking crew members, which struggled to adapt to the changes caused by the system outages. To assist customers, Delta announced a travel waiver allowing free flight changes along with providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.