NEW YORK:  A total of 1,033 flights were canceled and 2,982 encountered delays as of 1:20 p.m. East Time, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware, as the recent Omicron-fueled Covid-19 surge has resulted in crew shortages and disrupted the operations of some airlines.

SkyWest had 264 cancellations on Monday, Alaska Airlines had 141, United had 93, and American had 84. According to Xinhua, 1,700 flights were cancelled on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. According to report, "the cancellations came at the busiest time of year for air travel," with major US travel hubs "among the hardest hit."

"On Monday, more than 2,500 flights were grounded due to an increase in Covid-19 cases around the world. 1,000 of the over 2,500 cancelled flights were within, into, or out of the United States." Over 6,000 flights were cancelled worldwide on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after Christmas.

With more than 250 cancellations, SkyWest was the US carrier with the most. The Utah-based airline blamed the cancellations on weather at hubs as well as "an increase in Covid cases and quarantines among crew members," apologising for the inconvenience and promising to resume normal operations as soon as possible.

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