NEWS: Over 3,000 Christmas Eve Flights Have Been Canceled

To ensure we are equipping our readers with all the information they need, we will continue to report on all travel, safety, and COVID-related news that could impact a Disney Parks visit.

The new Omicron variant of coronavirus has already had a direct impact on travel, with extended mask mandates and travel restrictions.

Face mask signage

This variant was first detected in southern Africa, and subsequent cases have been found throughout the US and many other countries. We’ve already looked at how this variant could impact the tourism industry, but recent cancelations show that the impact on travel could be greater than initially predicted.

The New York Times reported today that thousands of holiday flights have been canceled globally due to the Omicron variant.

Flights are being canceled

As of Friday morning, about 3,000 flights have been canceled. United Airlines has canceled at least 150 Christmas Eve flights, and Delta Airlines has canceled 135 so far. The spread of the Omicron variant has resulted in limited staff for both the airplane crews and other operations managers for these airlines.

Airplane

A number of flights for Christmas day have also been affected. Some airlines (including United) are attempting to notify passengers before they arrive at the airport.

Orlando International Airport

So far, the Orlando International Airport has canceled 20 flights total today and delayed 39.

Orlando Airport

According to the Times, the United States is reporting about 170,000 new Omicron cases daily, which is a 38% increase over the last two weeks. A recent report by the Orlando Sentinel shared that the majority of Omicron cases have not been clinical cases, meaning there have been few hospitalizations. The CDC reported that most cases are mild, and recent studies show that people who have Omicron are up to 80% less likely to require hospitalization than those who have the Delta variant.

Masks are still required inside stores in the Disney Parks!

UPDATE: According to ClickOrlando.com, more than 2,000 flights were also cancelled on Sunday in the United States. Among those 2,000 flights impacted were almost 50 flights in and out of Orlando International Airport. Orlando International Airport has also warned that parking is extremely limited. In a recent news release, the Airport advised travelers to arrive about 3 hours prior to their boarding time, and consider using carpool or getting a ride to the airport (rather than parking).