U.S. Airlines Cancel nearly 1000 flights on Christmas Day due to Omicron

U.S. Airlines Cancel nearly 1,000 flights on Christmas Day due to Omicron. 

U.S. airlines canceled nearly 1,000 flights Saturday. This was the second consecutive day of cancellations due to COVID-19-related infections. 

These are causing some pilots to become incapacitated, which has disrupted plans for thousands of holiday travelers over the Christmas weekend.

According to FlightAware.com, 957 Christmas Day flights, including domestic flights, were canceled, up from 690 on Christmas Eve. In addition, nearly 2,000 flights were delayed.

One airline stated that it anticipates hundreds of cancellations on Sunday.

Christmas holidays are a busy time for air travel. 

However, the rapid spread Omicron variant has caused a dramatic increase in COVID-19 infection rates. Airlines have had to cancel flights due to the quarantine of crew and pilots.

Representatives for both companies stated that United Airlines canceled 230 flights and American Airlines canceled 90.

Maddie King, a spokesperson for United, stated that “the nationwide spike in Omicron case this week has had an impact on our flight crews as well as the people who manage our operation.” 

She stated that cancellations only made up a small percentage of United’s average daily flight frequency of 4,000 during the holiday season.

She said, “We are working hard in rebooking as many people as possible and getting them on their way to the holidays.”

Delta Air Lines had to cancel 344 flights Saturday due to Omicron. This was out of about 3,000 flights scheduled for Saturday. 

A spokesperson for the company stated that they had exhausted all resources and options to avoid cancellations. The effect would likely continue on Sunday.