More than 7,000 flights delayed, canceled Sunday amid omicron surge

[mystery-ak]

More than 7,000 flights delayed, canceled Sunday amid omicron surge
By Maureen Breslin - 12/27/21 07:55 AM EST

More than 7,300 flights were canceled or delayed in the U.S. on Sunday due to spikes of COVID-19 cases as many people sought to travel home from their Christmas holiday destinations, USA Today reports.

Approximately 5,900 flights were delayed as the omicron variant has led to a surge in coronavirus cases nationwide. About 1,400 flights were canceled altogether, according to the news outlet, which gathered its data from the flight-tracking website FlightAware. 

The news of the mass delays and cancellations comes after around 4,000 flights had been delayed or canceled on Christmas on Saturday as airlines cite extreme staff shortages from COVID-19 infections.

more
https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/aviation/587353-more-than-7000-flights-canceled-sunday-amid-omicron-surge

[Kamaji]

In other words, 7,000+ flights cancelled because of the common cold.

[mountaineer]

Approximately 5,900 flights were delayed as the omicron variant has led to a surge in coronavirus cases nationwide.

Where's the connection specifically between understaffed airlines and the omicron variant, though? The story says only that AA received  “a number of COVID-related sick calls" from its employees, but 1) how do we know they really had Covid (and weren't just taking the day off); and 2) if really sick, how do we know how many employees actually had the Omicron?

My gosh, my editor would have had my scalp if I wrote as poorly as The Hill "reporters."

Is there anything they won't blame on Omicron?
Got a paper cut. Yep, Omicron.
Forgot to buy milk today. Darn Omicron!
Overcooked the chicken. You know, Omicron.

[Kamaji]

Where's the connection specifically between understaffed airlines and the omicron variant, though? The story says only that AA received  “a number of COVID-related sick calls" from its employees, but 1) how do we know they really had Covid (and weren't just taking the day off); and 2) if really sick, how do we know how many employees actually had the Omicron?

My gosh, my editor would have had my scalp if I wrote as poorly as The Hill "reporters."

Is there anything they won't blame on Omicron?
Got a paper cut. Yep, Omicron.
Forgot to buy milk today. Darn Omicron!
Overcooked the chicken. You know, Omicron.