The most affected are the airlines of the US and China: Omicron effect, too many positives among the staff
At least 7 thousand flights have been canceled worldwide since Friday, over the Christmas weekend, due to the lack of staff due to the increase in infections from Covid-19. This is what appears from the FlightAware tracking site. Tens of thousands of passengers left on the ground. The BBC reports that the most affected appear to be airlines from China and the US, with further delays and cancellations announced for Monday.
Airlines report cancellations are due to crew members testing positive for Covid-19; furthermore, staff who have not tested positive but have had contact with infected people are required to remain in self-isolation. The figure is set to grow.
“The spike in Omicron cases across the country this week has had a direct impact on our crews and the people who run our operations,” the US airline, United explained yesterday, assuring that it is working to find solutions for passengers. . Delta Air Lines also canceled 280 flights on Saturday and 170 on Friday, according to Flightaware, citing both Omicron and occasionally bad weather. “Delta’s teams have exhausted all options and resources” before making these cancellations, the airline said.
Chinese airlines have had the most cancellations: China Eastern canceled some 540 flights yesterday, more than a quarter of its flight schedule, while Air China canceled 264 flights, also nearly a quarter of its scheduled departures. The cancellations disrupt the drive to resume travel during the holidays this year after a pandemic Christmas in 2020. According to estimates by the American Automobile Association, more than 109 million Americans would have had to leave their home area by plane. , train or car between December 23 and January 2, an increase of 34% over last year.
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