coronavirus omicron travel – SME.sk

WASHINGTON. Airlines around the world canceled more than 2,300 scheduled flights on Friday, with thousands more flights delayed due to the spread of a highly contagious coronavirus option omicron.

The AFP agency reported this, referring to the data on the FlightAware website.

By 21.15 CET on Friday, a total of 2325 flights scheduled for December 24 were canceled and 8,000 were delayed. In addition, the airlines canceled another 1,400 flights, which were scheduled to take off on December 25.

Many pilots, flight attendants, stewards and other airline staff either fell ill or were forced to isolate themselves after contact with a person who tested positive for presence. coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

United Airlines canceled ten percent of its scheduled flights on Friday due to staff shortages.

“The nationwide increase in omikron infections this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews,” United Airlines said in a statement.

“As a result, we have unfortunately had to cancel some flights and inform the affected customers before they arrive at the airport,” the company added, adding that it provided alternative connections for its customers.

Experts attribute the sharp increase in COVID-19 to the coronavirus variant of omicron not only in the United States but also in European countries.

Britain and France on Friday recorded the highest daily increase in new coronavirus cases since the onset of the pandemic.

The United Kingdom reported 122,186 new cases, more than 2,000 more than the day before. Britain only surpassed the 100,000-day mark on Wednesday, with 106,022 more cases.

In France, 94,124 new cases were reported on Friday, and the number is expected to rise due to the Christmas holidays, during which people meet more.