Delta Airlines is grappling with the aftermath of the global CrowdStrike-Microsoft IT outage as flight cancellations and delays persist for the fifth consecutive day. On Tuesday, the Atlanta-based carrier had to cancel an additional 400 flights, while over 300 flights were delayed. The company's ongoing struggles have prompted the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection to launch an inquiry into Delta, citing a significant number of consumer complaints regarding the airline's issues.

In a statement, DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of Delta taking care of its passengers and honoring its customer service commitments. He stated that not only is it the right thing to do, but it is also mandated by law. The Department of Transportation is prepared to utilize its investigative and enforcement powers to ensure that Delta upholds its customers' rights.

Compared to other major carriers, Delta appears to have been uniquely affected by the global IT outage. Many of the carrier's critical IT systems worldwide rely on Microsoft Windows, causing significant disruption. The CrowdStrike error that occurred on Friday has required Delta's IT teams to manually repair and reboot each affected system. This process has been time-consuming, with additional delays arising as applications synchronize and start communicating with each other.

Delta's most critical system, which ensures proper crew placement for all flights, has proved particularly challenging to synchronize due to its complexity. The manual support required for this system has further contributed to the ongoing delays and cancellations.

Despite the mounting issues, Delta's representative did not respond to requests for comments on Tuesday. Meanwhile, social media platforms have been inundated with images of stranded passengers unable to reach their intended destinations. Coordinating luggage for rebooked flights has presented an additional hurdle, as reflected in the numerous responses from Delta's social media team regarding baggage concerns.

In a video message to employees, Delta CEO Ed Bastian and Chief Information Officer Rahul Samant provided an update on the situation. Bastian assured employees that the company is working tirelessly to restore normal operations, but he acknowledged that it would take a few more days before the situation improves significantly. He expressed optimism that Tuesday and Wednesday would bring gradual progress and improved conditions for Delta's passengers.

As Delta continues to grapple with its IT outage challenges, the airline's underlying commitment to resolving the issue and ensuring passenger satisfaction remains in the spotlight. With the DOT's inquiry underway, the pressure is on Delta to rectify the situation promptly and minimize further disruptions to its services.