Christmas-hit Omicron-induced Air Travel Chaos to Last Until Year-End

Over 7,500 Flights Canceled During Christmas Holidays
Staff Shortage Due to 10-Day Quarantine of Infected Crew Members

On the 26th (local time), following Christmas, New York John F. Kennedy International Airport was crowded with travelers trying to check in as many U.S. airlines canceled numerous flights.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Due to the spread of the Omicron variant, over 7,500 flights worldwide were canceled during the Christmas holiday. The shortage of personnel worsened as crew members and pilots were infected with the highly contagious new variant.

AFP news agency reported on the 26th (local time), citing the flight tracking site FlightAware, that more than 7,500 flights worldwide were canceled from the 24th through that day. On Christmas Day, the 25th, about 2,900 flights were canceled. Among these, over 1,250 flights were either departing from or heading to the United States.

According to Bloomberg News, on that day, more than one out of every ten flights of U.S. low-cost carriers Alaska Airlines and JetBlue Airways did not operate. The previous day, at least 12% of flights from Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and JetBlue Airways were canceled.

The large-scale cancellations during this Christmas holiday, considered the busiest season for the aviation industry since the pandemic, were due to increased passenger demand alongside worsening staff shortages. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant led to airline employees such as pilots and crew members, as well as airport workers, being infected with COVID-19 or classified as close contacts, causing an aviation crisis.

Derek Dombrowski, a spokesperson for JetBlue Airways, said, "Like other companies, we are seeing an increase in employees taking sick leave due to Omicron infections," adding, "As the Omicron variant spreads, there is a possibility that flight cancellations and delays will continue."

As a result, the number of air travelers in the U.S. on Christmas Day was recorded at 1.53 million, about 900,000 fewer than before the pandemic. According to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the number of air travelers in the U.S. exceeded pre-pandemic levels on the 22nd and reached the highest number of 2.19 million on the 23rd, just before the Christmas holiday. However, the large-scale aviation crisis caused by Omicron significantly reduced the number of travelers.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The aviation crisis is expected to continue through the end of the year. In fact, 190 flights scheduled to depart on the 27th, the day after the holiday, were already canceled in advance. Additionally, if some delayed flights are canceled, the number of canceled flights is expected to increase over time.

Henry Hartbelt, CEO of travel consulting firm Atmosphere Research Group, told Bloomberg News, "Someone should have warned that even those vaccinated against COVID-19 could be infected with Omicron," adding, "However, simply reducing the isolation period for industry personnel who test positive could mitigate the impact."

The aviation industry has requested that the self-isolation period be shortened from 10 days to 5 days after symptom onset for fully vaccinated individuals infected with COVID-19 to address this situation. On the 23rd, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shortened the isolation period for asymptomatic healthcare workers from 10 days to 7 days to alleviate medical burdens, and the aviation industry argues that similar measures are necessary to prevent major disruptions.

Nick Calio, president of the U.S. airline industry lobbying group Airlines for America, recently sent a letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, stating, "The spread of the Omicron variant is worsening staffing shortages and could cause serious disruptions to airline operations and workforce," and requested a reduction in the isolation period.

Meanwhile, the airport with the most severe cancellations during this holiday period worldwide was Xi'an Airport in China. Bloomberg News reported, "As Chinese authorities have demanded local governments drastically reduce COVID-19 cases, the strictest lockdown measures since the initial outbreak in Wuhan have been implemented," adding, "One out of every three flights was canceled."