The Department of Transportation is currently scrutinizing Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is adequately addressing consumer needs amid ongoing flight cancellations triggered by last week’s global tech outage.
In a statement on social media, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized, “All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.” Buttigieg noted that his department had received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the tech disruptions.
Based in Atlanta, Delta has faced significant challenges in resuming normal operations following a software update failure by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The update, which took place late Thursday, affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing widespread access issues and, in some cases, the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident impacted nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery companies, retailers, and financial institutions. Airlines and airports faced severe consequences, with over 46,000 flights delayed and 5,171 canceled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta bore the brunt of the disruptions.
Delta reported canceling about 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. Over Sunday and Monday, the airline canceled more than 2,500 flights and delayed another 3,441. As of Tuesday, 738 flights have been either canceled or delayed, according to FlightAware.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a Sunday statement, saying, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have 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 heavily on applications using Microsoft Windows, including a critical crew tracking tool that failed to process the necessary changes due to the system shutdown. To assist affected customers, Delta has issued a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.