Just as we have seen rapid advances in technology in the manufacturing sector (see Ch. 7), so do we see the critical role of technology in services. This week, for example, a power outage at Delta Air Lines grounded thousands of passengers, wreaking havoc on the carrier’s reservations system and drawing attention to antiquated technology that has plagued many airlines. The outage canceled hundreds of flights and snarled Delta’s efforts to alert passengers to the problems via its apps and on airline flight-information displays.
The technical problems will cost Delta millions of dollars in lost revenue and damage its hard-won reputation for reliability, reports The Wall Street Journal (Aug. 9, 2016). The meltdown highlights the vulnerability in Delta’s computer system, and raises questions about whether a recent wave of U.S. airline mergers that created 4 large carriers controlling 85% of domestic capacity has built companies too reliant on IT systems that date from the 1990s. Delta merged with Northwest Airlines 8 years ago.