Another 1,300 flights canceled as omicron, weather continue to hamper travel

Nearly 1,300 flight cancellations happened Tuesday, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.

Airlines attributed the continuing disruptions to COVID-19 staff shortages and weather, The Washington Post reports.

The numbers marked a slight decrease in cancellations from the prior two days.

On Sunday and Monday, about 1,400 domestic and international flights were canceled each day, according to the Post.

The mass cancellations coinciding with holiday travelers trying to get back home are creating havoc for airlines, who now must scramble to rebook passengers who had their flights delayed or canceled.

Passengers have complained of intense customer service waiting periods as many try to get home for the New Year, reports the Post. 

The Transportation Security Administration reports that more than 2 million Americans were traveling for the holidays, which is a notable figure as the pandemic continues to surge across the nation amid the spread of the new COVID-19 omicron variant. 

Airlines were previously optimistic of a full rebound of flights in December, as around Thanksgiving time, flights were being booked at around 90 percent of their 2019 capacities, according to the Post.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week scaled back the isolation period for those who tested positive for COVID-19 to five days, down from 10, which helped bring team members back to work more quickly, reports the Post.

Some heads of airline companies expressed relief at this decision, but concerns have been raised by employees, including unions for airline workers.