The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines (DAL) due to a significant number of flight cancellations that resulted from a computer system outage on Friday. This outage, which was linked to cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike (CRWD), affected Microsoft (MSFT) computer systems worldwide. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on X that the purpose of the investigation is to "ensure that the airline complies with legal requirements and adequately meets the needs of its passengers during ongoing widespread disruptions." He noted, "All airline customers are entitled to fair treatment, and I am committed to ensuring that this entitlement is respected."
Delta was forced to cancel over 1,100 flights on Monday, and by 8 a.m. Tuesday, nearly 200 additional flights had been canceled. The airline continues to deal with delays and further cancellations this week as it works to resolve the issues stemming from the global system outage.
Morgan Stanley analysts pointed out that "in the previous week, Delta Air Lines experienced the highest cancellation rate, with approximately 15.1% of observed flights being cancelled." Delta has faced significant disruptions, with ongoing delays impacting its flight operations worldwide from the weekend through Monday. This has led to extended waiting lines and changed travel arrangements at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
To compensate for the inconvenience, Delta stated that it will offer travel vouchers and waivers to passengers affected by the disruptions. Morgan Stanley indicated that most of the delays and cancellations occurred on Friday, and while some airlines managed to resume flights by the afternoon, cancellations extended through Saturday and Sunday.
