Some 4,400 flights were canceled worldwide over Christmas and thousands more were delayed due to the omicron variant of the coronavirus, according to tracking website Flightaware, adding to the frustration of the pandemic.
According to Flightaware.com, as of 0720 GMT, at least 2,000 flights had been canceled around the world on Christmas Day, including roughly 700 to or from airports in the United States, and another 2,000 on Friday.
On Thursday, cancellations had totaled 2,231, according to the same source, which accounts for more than 600 cancellations for Sunday.
Many companies consulted by the AFP mentioned the new wave of the pandemic, which particularly affects crews, as the cause of the cancellations.
Pilots, flight attendants and other personnel reported sick or had to go into quarantine, forcing many airlines to cancel flights during one of the peak travel periods of the year.
Most of the flights had been scheduled before the appearance of omicron, more contagious than previous variants.
United Airlines, for example, canceled about 200 flights on both Friday and Saturday, 10% of those scheduled, according to Flightware.
“The peak of omicron cases across the country this week has had a direct impact on our crews and the people who run our operations,” said the company, which said it is seeking solutions for affected passengers.
Delta also canceled 260 flights on Saturday and about 170 on Friday, both due to omicron and adverse weather conditions, although to a lesser degree.
More than eleven Alaska Airlines flights were also canceled, some of whose employees said they had been “potentially exposed to the virus” and had to isolate themselves.
Chinese airlines accounted for the largest number of cancellations: at 0720 GMT on Saturday, China Eastern had canceled about 480 flights, more than 20%; and Air China about 15% of its total scheduled departures.
Frustration and division
The cancellations added frustration to the pandemic, as many people were unable to reunite with their families for the holidays, after the severe blow that the coronavirus dealt at Christmas 2020.
According to estimates by the American Automobile Association (AAA), more than 109 million Americans were expected to leave their area by plane, train or car between December 23 and January 2, an increase of 34% over the year. last.
But most of those vacation and family reunion plans were made before the appearance of the omicron variant, which has become dominant in the United States, overwhelming some hospitals and healthcare workers.
Fortunately, these disturbances had no impact on Santa’s travel plans, which the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has followed for 63 years.
“Santa Claus is doing very well so far”, said NORAD Commander Lt. Gen. Eric Kenny. “He has already been at it for many hours and he will do it all night long as well.”
President Joe Biden and his wife Jill also spoke with NORAD officials via video conference on Friday to ensure that Santa’s trip went smoothly.
The president also spoke later by video call with several families, asking the children what gifts they wanted and telling them that they had to be in bed before midnight, otherwise Santa would not come.
But as a sign of the deep political divisions affecting the United States, the communication took a bitter turn when a father, whom Biden had just wished Happy Holidays, insulted him.
According to reporters present, the father replied: “Merry Christmas” followed by “Come on, Brandon!”, A phrase used by supporters of Donald Trump in a derogatory way against Biden.
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