DOT Opens Investigation Into Delta Amid Ongoing Cancellations, Delays

Delta Air Lines (DAL) is officially being investigated by nan Department of Transportation (DOT) complete its consequence to Friday's world tech outage that caused nan cancellation and hold of thousands of flights successful caller days.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Tuesday greeting that nan agency will analyse Delta "to guarantee nan hose is pursuing nan rule and taking attraction of its passengers during continued wide disruptions."

How Delta Has Been Impacted

Delta has remained nan astir heavy impacted of nan awesome airlines, canceling complete 460 flights by 12:30 p.m. ET Tuesday while competitors United (UAL) and American Airlines (AAL) had canceled 45 and 38 flights, respectively, according to information from nan formation search website FlightAware.

The hose has said that Friday's outage, caused by an update from information package supplier CrowdStrike (CRWD) that impacted millions of devices moving connected Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows operating system, impacted 1 of Delta's devices that tracks unit schedules. The issues meant it has go progressively difficult for Delta to guarantee flights person a afloat unit for rescheduled flights, nan institution said.

Delta has besides extended offers to thief customers rebook their recreation without incurring important expenses done Tuesday arsenic hundreds of flights are still being canceled.

What Could nan DOT Investigation Do?

Buttigieg said successful his posts connected X connected Tuesday that travelers are encouraged to pass nan DOT if they judge Delta has violated user protection laws.

In December, Southwest (LUV) was deed pinch a civilian punishment of $140 cardinal complete nan airline's handling of a 2022 wintertime large wind that caused astir 17,000 flights to beryllium canceled. The DOT recovered that Southwest grounded to supply "adequate customer work assistance," on pinch delays successful providing formation position updates and refunds to customers.

Buttigieg said erstwhile nan good was announced that nan penalty, 30 times larger than immoderate erstwhile 1 ever handed retired by nan DOT for user protection violations, should put each airlines "on notice" that they request to protect their passengers, aliases perchance look enforcement actions from nan DOT.

Delta shares level astatine $43.83 arsenic of 12:30 p.m. ET Tuesday.