US airlines are off to a rough start in 2022 as the surging Omicron variant and wintry weather conditions forced the cancellation of thousands of flights. Carriers canceled more than 1,900 flights within, into or out of the United States through early Monday morning, according to tracking data from FlightAware. Another 1,000 flights were delayed. Southwest Airlines canceled at least 440 flights, or 12% of its scheduled for the day while New York-based JetBlue canceled 136 flights, or 13% of its slate. United cut 103 flights Monday, Delta canceled 86 and American Airlines cut 36. Monday’s mass cancelations come after 5,400 US flights were canceled over the New Year’s holiday weekend. Airlines have been under pressure during the busy holiday travel season due to Omicron-related crew shortages and seasonal weather. A winter storm dumped snow and led to severe weather conditions across much of the Midwest over the weekend. Rough weather is expected on the East Coast this week. Despite the cancellations, shares of major US airlines were flat or slightly higher in premarket trading Monday. The Federal Aviation Administration has warned of ongoing disruptions due to the Omicron variant. “Like the rest of the U.S. population, an increased number of FAA employees have tested positive for COVID-19,” the FAA said in a statement last week. “To maintain safety, traffic volume at some facilities could be reduced, which might result in delays during busy periods.” Airlines are taking steps to address the disruptions. Last week, JetBlue preemptively canceled hundreds of flights scheduled through Jan. 13. Officials said the decision was meant to allow customers enough time to make alternative travel plans. “Like many businesses and organizations, we have seen a surge in the number of sick calls from Omicron,” a JetBlue spokesman said. “We entered the holiday season with the highest staffing levels we’ve had since the pandemic began and are using all resources available to cover our staffing needs.” United Airlines is offering pilots three times their usual pay for taking extra trips this January in a bid to address crew shortages, according to multiple reports. Spirit Airlines offered flight attendants double pay through Jan. 4. The Omicron variant is just one of several challenges facing embattled US airlines. The Airlines for America trade group warned of future flight delays after AT&T and Verizon rejected the Biden administration’s request to delay the launch of their 5G network service. Airlines say the rollout could pose a safety risk by interfering with plane communications.
