New York (Business Emerge), July 25: Delta Airlines is currently under investigation as it continues to deal with the aftermath of a global IT failure that occurred last week. The company, which has canceled over 5,000 flights since Friday, has been directed by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to offer refunds and other compensations to passengers affected by the disruptions.
Despite its efforts to normalize operations, Delta has indicated that it may take several additional days to fully resume its services. The airline has already seen over 400 flights canceled and numerous delays as of Tuesday morning, following over 1,150 cancellations the previous day, according to Flight Aware.
In the midst of this turmoil, CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz has been summoned to testify before Congress. The cybersecurity firm’s malfunctioning update is believed to have triggered the disruption, which affected approximately 8.5 million Microsoft Windows devices worldwide. The incident significantly impacted various sectors, including airlines and healthcare services, with many IT teams resorting to manual reboots.
The House Committee on Homeland Security issued a statement emphasizing the importance of understanding the full scope of the incident and the steps CrowdStrike is implementing to address the issue. The committee acknowledged the critical need for transparency and detailed explanations for the public.
CrowdStrike is working diligently to expedite the resolution of the problem. Delta, which appears to be struggling more than other airlines to recover from the disruption, has cited issues with its crew-staffing system as a major challenge.
In response to the ongoing investigation, Delta has affirmed its commitment to cooperating fully with the Department of Transportation. The airline has pledged to address passenger concerns and restore the reliable, on-time service its customers expect.
Transportation Secretary Buttigieg has asserted that all airline passengers are entitled to fair treatment and has called on those who believe Delta has not met its passenger protection obligations to come forward. He has promised to follow up on any such reports.
Senator Maria Cantwell, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, has also expressed concerns about Delta’s slower recovery compared to other airlines. She criticized the airline for providing inaccurate information regarding passenger rights on its website and for not ensuring sufficient customer service support.
The Biden administration, in April, implemented a new rule requiring airlines to promptly and automatically refund passengers for significant travel changes. This regulation is part of a broader initiative to enhance oversight of the airline industry following a series of travel disruptions. Last year, Southwest Airlines agreed to a $140 million settlement with the Department of Transportation after a storm led to widespread cancellations during the busy holiday season.