Delta Airlines continued to experience significant disruptions to its operations for the fifth consecutive day due to a global IT outage. The airline canceled 400 flights and saw over 300 more delayed, prompting the U.S. Department of Transportation to open an inquiry into the carrier. DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg stressed the importance of Delta honoring its customer service commitments, stating that they must take care of their passengers.
Compared to other major carriers, Delta has been uniquely affected by the IT outage. The airline reported that over half of its IT systems rely on Microsoft Windows, and manual repairs and reboots were necessary following the CrowdStrike error on Friday. One critical system, which ensures proper crew scheduling, required extensive manual support to synchronize.
Passengers have been left stranded, and there have been challenges coordinating luggage as flyers seek to rebook their flights. CEO Ed Bastian and Chief Information Officer Rahul Samant provided an update to employees, assuring that the company is working diligently to restore operations. Bastian acknowledged that it would take a couple more days before the situation improves significantly.
The outage has caused widespread frustration among passengers and has sparked a high volume of complaints. Delta’s social media team has been busy addressing issues related to baggage and flight rebooking. The airline has been working to resolve the situation but has faced challenges due to the complexity of its IT systems.
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