John Locher / AP
A plane takes off from McCarran International Airport, now Harry Reid International, near the Las Vegas Strip on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021.
Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021 | 3:21 p.m.
More than two dozen flights were canceled today at the Las Vegas airport, with more than 1,000 flights scrubbed nationwide as airlines struggle with COVID-induced staff shortages and bad weather.
Joe Rajchel, a spokesman for Harry Reid International Airport, said that as of noon, 27 flights were called off — 16 arrivals and 11 departures.
“We’re seeing the convergence of many different factors,” Rajchel said, citing weather and the coronavirus. “The airlines don’t give us a reason for each individual cancellation. It’s one big network, once some cancellations start, it’s like a domino effect.”
Flight delays and cancellations tied to staffing shortages have been common this year.
Airlines reduced staff in 2020, when air travel collapsed, and have struggled to rehire as demand rapidly rebounded.
“During the pandemic, we have seen experienced airline personnel leave the industry and not return across the globe,” said John Grant, senior analyst at travel industry research firm OAG. “Filling those skill gaps was already a challenge in the recovery before the latest variant.”
The arrival of the coronavirus omicron variant and a recent spike in cases has exacerbated the problem.
“What we’re seeing happen is the employees who were available to work have come down with COVID,” said Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst with Atmosphere Research Group.
Since Friday, airlines have canceled more than 4,000 U.S. flights, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. Las Vegas has seen about 250 cancellations since then.
Rajchel advised travelers to check the status of their flights online before showing up at the airport. With travel surging over the holidays, it’s also important to arrive early and prepare for long lines, he said.
Industry analysts said new guidance from U.S. health officials could help airlines better navigate the impact of omicron on staffing levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday cut in half the recommended length of time a person should isolate after getting COVID-19 to five days.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
