(Calgary) WestJet airline has to cancel 15% of its flights until the end of January due to understaffing.
The company says it is heavily affected by the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. She estimates that the number of active cases among her employees has climbed 35% in the past few days. According to her, 181 of her employees are infected with COVID-19.
WestJet is also reporting a significant increase in delayed or canceled flights over the past 72 hours.
“The new schedules will be implemented over the next few days. While cancellations are a measure of last resort, they demonstrate the reality of the service we can realistically provide, ”WestJet Interim President and CEO Harry Taylor said in a statement.
More than 850 flights were canceled across the United States on Wednesday, according to data from the FlightAware website. As of Tuesday, 1,300 flights to or from the United States had been canceled and 1,500 more the day before.
WestJet has indicated that customers whose flights have been canceled or postponed will be eligible for a refund. They will be contacted by the company.