US and Australian airlines cancel hundreds of flights after Omicron causes staff shortage
Airlines in the US and Australia have canceled hundreds of flights on Christmas Eve, as coronavirus-related staff shortages disrupted last-minute holiday trips.
United Airlines said it was forced to cancel 120 flights on Friday, while about 135 flights by rival Delta Air Lines were also grounded.
According to aviation tracking website FlightAware, coronavirus-related disruptions make up a small portion of the festival’s flight schedule as more than 1,900 flights were canceled by airlines globally on Friday, mostly due to due to issues unrelated to the pandemic, according to aviation tracking website FlightAware.
However, United and Delta’s cancellations illustrate the impact of a spike in the number of coronavirus cases associated with the Omicron variant.
Delta said it had “exhausted all options and resources,” including rerouting some planes, to try to avoid cancellations.
This week’s spike in Omicron cases has had a direct impact on our fleet and the people who run our operations, United said.
The disruption comes during one of the busiest travel times of the year in the US, as passengers rush to fly home in time for Christmas.
More than 2 million people passed through US airports on Wednesday, more than in 2019, the US Transportation Security Administration said.
There was also disruption in Australia on Christmas Eve, including 80 cancellations out of around 500 domestic services at Sydney Airport.
Jetstar, a low-cost carrier based in Melbourne, was forced to cancel a number of flights after a large number of its employees were quarantined and tested for Covid-19 as part of a contact tracing rule. lost.
“We have worked to minimize any delays and have accommodated the majority of passengers within hours of their original departure time so they can reach their destination in time for Christmas, the airline said in a statement.
UK and European airlines did not report significant disruption on Christmas Eve, although easyJet has ramped up its contingent of flight attendants and backup pilots across the UK and Europe as a measure. preventive measures.
Rail passengers in the UK have also been warned of possible delays and last-minute changes during the festival period, as the industry is grappling with staff shortages.
Avanti West Coast, ScotRail and Southern were among train operators warning of possible disruption on Friday.
Almost 9% of rail staff in the UK are absent due to illness or self-isolation, the Rail Delivery Group said earlier this week.
