U.S. Regulators Investigate Delta Air Lines' Response to Technology Outage

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has announced an investigation into Delta Air Lines following a significant technology breakdown that has left the airline struggling to recover. The outage, which affected over half a million passengers, has led to Delta and its partners canceling more than 6,500 flights since Friday, far exceeding the cancellations of other airlines. The inquiry will examine why Delta's recovery has lagged behind its competitors and whether the airline's handling of stranded passengers violated federal regulations. Delta's operational challenges stem from a faulty Windows update by cybersecurity vendor CrowdStrike, which rendered the airline's IT systems inoperable. In response, Delta's chief of operations, John Laughter, stated that the airline is actively repositioning its resources to restore normal operations by the end of the week. Despite being recognized as one of the best-run airlines in the U.S., Delta's recent performance has raised concerns about its reliance on Microsoft Windows-based systems. Senator Maria Cantwell, chair of the Senate committee overseeing airlines, expressed her concerns in a letter to Delta's CEO, Ed Bastian, regarding the airline's compliance with passenger rights established by recent legislation. The situation has drawn parallels to Southwest Airlines' operational collapse in December 2022, which resulted in a $35 million fine as part of a larger settlement. As the investigation unfolds, Delta's reputation as a leading airline hangs in the balance.