Flight cancellations due to the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic amidst soaring Omicron cases have affected the holiday plan for thousands of people in an otherwise one of the busiest travel periods of the year, reported AFP.
According to flight tracker FlightAware, around 7,900 flights worldwide have been grounded from Friday–with multiple airlines acknowledging that Omicron spikes have prompted staffing shortages.
Effects have rippled worldwide with some 800 flights already facing cancellations Monday and 170 more on Tuesday, according to flight tracker FlightAware.
The highly transmissible Omicron strain has sent new cases skyrocketing across the globe, with countries reviving dreaded lockdowns, major sports leagues cancelling Boxing Day football and rugby fixtures, and cruise ships returning to port with COVID-infected passengers.
Governments including the United States, the UAE and the Philippines have boosted testing and vaccinations.
Across the globe, aircrew and ground staff have fallen sick or gone into quarantine after exposure to the virus, multiple airlines acknowledged.
On Friday, JetBlue said that the omicron variant was causing staffing problems leading to flight cancellations while United spokesperson Maddie King said staffing shortages were still causing cancellations and it was unclear when operations will get normal.
