Health

Omicron causes travel chaos, 8,000 flights cancelled over Christmas

Madrid Desk, Dec 27 (EFE).- Over 2,000 flights worldwide on Monday were cancelled and some 3,800 delayed due to the rapid spread of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant, according to FlightAware.

The technology company that provides real-time flight information said 2,133 fights were cancelled and 3,845 delayed on Monday alone, with Chinese and US destinations the worst affected.

China Eastern cancelled 418 and delayed 63 of its flights while United had 85 cancellations and 31 delays.

Over 8,000 flights have been cancelled over the Christmas holiday period, the busiest travel season of the year.

The spike in coronavirus cases worldwide, driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, has prompted countries to toughen restrictions on travel.

China has cancelled all flights from South Korea for two weeks while United said the Omicron variant was having a “direct impact” on flight crews who were forced to self-isolate after being in contact with a positive case. EFE

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