Travelers everywhere are being affected by the recent COVID-19 surge with thousands of flights being canceled recently. The second anniversary of the first confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States will take place in a few weeks at a time when new infections are at its highest. The spike in COVID-19 cases stems from the delta variant and the highly contagious omicron strain that is known to be milder. This spike in cases has also put an unexpected hurtle in the holiday plans of many people and left everyone with questions and concerns at the start of this new year.
Airline travel is an industry that has been completely sidelined by this recent COVID-19 surge, and most people that are still trying to fly during and after the holiday season have quite the battle ahead of them. Some travelers in the United States have to deal with the unexpected flight cancellations for two reasons: the COVID-19 surge and recent winter storm warnings at major airports. Along with cancellations come thousands of delays that are impacting flights in the United States.
There could also be more disruptions to air traffic in the United States. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there will be an increase in the amount of air-traffic control staff who test positive for COVID-19 and this increase in positive results could possibly lead to more flight disruptions. To keep things as safe as possible, traffic control staff at some airline traffic facilities may be shortened which could result in even more delays during busy periods.
Flight travelers are not the only ones who have been impacted by the recent COVID-19 surge. According to the CDC, there has been more cases reported among the staff and passengers on cruise ships. For that reason, the CDC is warning people not to travel by cruise whether they are vaccinated or not. The recent surge in cases of COVID-19 has impacted schools and universities as well and traveling students must be concerned about the cancellations and delays in air travel right now. Some colleges and universities have chosen to go remote for awhile to see if the case count can be put under control. There is no doubt that this recent surge in COVID-19 cases has impacted travel in a way that is serious and inconvenient.