Microsoft has hit back at Delta Air Lines over allegations that the tech giant was responsible for a recent wave of flight cancellations, marking a significant dispute between two major corporations.
The disagreement centers around a technical outage in mid-July that caused Delta to cancel around 5,000 flights, affecting more than a third of its scheduled operations.
The disruption began when a cybersecurity company, CrowdStrike, issued a flawed software update to its customers running Microsoft Windows. This update caused significant issues across multiple industries, including the airline sector. While most airlines recovered swiftly, Delta struggled for days, ultimately canceling a large portion of its flights.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, revealed that the incident had cost the airline approximately $500 million. In the aftermath, Delta publicly pointed fingers at Microsoft and CrowdStrike, claiming that the tech companies were at fault for the severe disruptions.
Microsoft’s Response
Microsoft has strongly refuted Delta’s accusations. In a letter from Mark Cheffo, a partner at the Dechert law firm representing Microsoft, the company criticized Delta’s narrative as “incomplete, false, misleading and damaging.” The letter, which was addressed to David Boies, a prominent lawyer representing Delta, emphasized that Microsoft was not to blame for the airline’s difficulties.
Microsoft stated that it had offered assistance to Delta multiple times during the crisis, but these offers were repeatedly declined. Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, even reached out personally to Delta’s leadership without receiving a response. Microsoft suggested that the root of Delta’s problems might lie in the airline’s outdated IT infrastructure and reliance on systems serviced by other companies, such as IBM.
Accusations of Outdated Systems
In its letter, Microsoft highlighted that Delta, unlike many of its competitors, might not have sufficiently modernized its IT systems, which could have exacerbated the impact of the outage. This criticism was quickly rebuffed by Delta, which asserted its commitment to technology, noting significant investments in IT infrastructure over the past several years.
“Delta has a long track record of investing in safe, reliable, and elevated service for our customers and employees,” the airline stated. Delta pointed out that it had spent billions on IT capital and operating costs since 2016, reinforcing its dedication to maintaining modern and efficient systems.
Legal Implications and Next Steps
The exchange of letters has set the stage for potential legal action, with Microsoft demanding that Delta preserve documents related to the incident. Microsoft has made it clear that it will “vigorously defend itself” if Delta proceeds with a lawsuit. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for both companies, as well as for the broader relationship between technology providers and the industries they serve.
This public clash between Delta and Microsoft underscores the complexities and risks involved when critical infrastructure relies on interconnected technology systems. As both companies prepare for a potential legal showdown, the travel and tech industries alike will be watching closely to see how this high-stakes conflict unfolds.
