United and Delta Airlines have preemptively canceled almost 200 Christmas Eve flights, the airlines announced Thursday.
In a statement, United Airlines blamed the cancellations on staffing shortages due to COVID-19.
The nationwide spike in Omicron cases this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation. As a result, we’ve unfortunately had to cancel some flights and are notifying impacted customers in advance of them coming to the airport. We’re sorry for the disruption and are working hard to rebook as many people as possible and get them on their way for the holidays.
Delta Airlines issued a similar statement to ABC News, saying the company has "exhausted all options and resources."
JUST IN: Delta Air Lines has cancelled 82 flights for Friday citing Omicron and weather issues. pic.twitter.com/6Q0BxIenrK — Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) December 24, 2021
According to FlightAware, as of 4:53 p.m., there have been 313 delays at Denver International Airport (DIA) today. Eighty-six of the delayed flights were United, while six were Delta. Seventeen flights within, into or out of the United States at DIA were canceled. Eleven of the flights were United, while no Delta flights were canceled today.
FlightAware shows two Christmas Even flights have already been delayed at DIA. One of the delayed flights is United, while no Delta flights have been delayed at this time. Sixteen Christmas Eve flights have been canceled so far at DIA. Thirteen of them are United flights, while two are Delta flights.
SaturnProject on December 24th, 2021 at 07:19 UTC »
I am in this, my flight was cancelled
donsanedrin on December 24th, 2021 at 04:04 UTC »
Hope the airline workers bring some football helmets and shoulder pads.
And, please, if you going to record the fights at the airport, record in landscape mode.
Monsur_Ausuhnom on December 24th, 2021 at 02:24 UTC »
It makes one wonder what's going into happen when all flights are canceled and they can't go back after the holidays.