Christmas Eve: United and Delta canceled more than 200 flights in the US

United Airlines and Delta Airlines announced yesterday (Thursday) that they are each canceling dozens of flights on Christmas Eve, due to the spread of the Omicron strain among air and ground crews.

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United, based in Chicago, canceled 120 flights scheduled for today, while a Atlanta-based Delta canceled about 90 flights. The two companies said they were working to contact the passengers so that they would not arrive at the airport.

“The national increase in omicron cases this week has directly affected our flight crews and the people responsible for all stages of operation. As a result we have had to cancel some flights and we are notifying affected customers in advance so they do not arrive at the airport,” United said. Delta said it had “exhausted all options and resources – including changing routes and changing planes and crew to try to meet schedules – before having to cancel about 90 flights that were scheduled for today.”

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A United Airlines plane in Houston. archives

(Photo: AP)

Delta said the reason is the spread of the omicron, and problematic weather in some areas. On Tuesday, Delta CEO Ed Bastian asked the head of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to reduce the isolation guidelines for fully vaccinated adults, noting the company’s manpower difficulties. A trade organization representing large airlines, as well as Jetbla.The CDC released updated guidelines for health and nursing workers yesterday, including a short seven-day isolation period for workers who are positive for Corona but asymptomatic, provided they provide a negative test.

Cautious optimism in South Africa

It was reported yesterday that according to early studies published in the UK, Denmark and South Africa, the likelihood of developing serious diseases following infection with the omicron strain and so is the chance of hospitalization, Low compared to the Delta strain. However, the reason for the decline is that Omicron infects more people who are vaccinated or recovering compared to the Delta.

In South Africa, where the omicron strain was first discovered, there has recently been a decline in the number of daily cases diagnosed and experts estimate that it After the peak. At the same time, country experts warn of complacency at holiday gatherings, noting the demographic differences between countries that affect the spread of the disease: “Every country is different. The average age in South Africa is 27 – it is younger than many Western countries.”

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