This archive report was first published on 30 December 2021.
Published on December 30, 2021, thousands of flights were cancelled or delayed worldwide over the Christmas weekend due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Airlines across the globe reported staffing shortages as crew members were forced to isolate, and travelers were left seeking alternative forms of transportation.
According to FlightAware.com, U.S. airlines cancelled over 1,300 flights on Sunday, while several cruise ships had to cancel stops after outbreaks on board, affecting the plans of thousands of Christmas travelers.
At least three cruise ships were forced to return to port without making scheduled port calls after Covid-19 cases were detected on board, according to multiple media reports.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease official, warned of rising US cases in coming days and potentially 'overrun...hospitals, particularly in those regions in which you have a larger proportion of unvaccinated individuals.'
With rising infections, airlines have been forced to cancel flights with pilots and cabin crew needing to quarantine, while poor weather in some areas added to travelers' woes.
A total of 997 flights were scrapped on Christmas Day and nearly 700 on Christmas Eve, with thousands more delayed on all three days.
US airports most heavily impacted were in Seattle, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, and JFK International in New York.
