Air Travel Costs Predicted to Increase as Flights Continue to Be 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 airline industry has been majorly affected by the rise of the omicron COVID-19 variant.

Orlando International Airport

Over 3,000 flights were canceled on Christmas Eve, followed by thousands more flight cancellations through the New Year. Some of our readers have had travel plans impacted by the omicron variant as the United States hit a record 1 million daily COVID-19 cases, and the airline industry is still facing complications.

As reported by CNBC, airlines are continuing to cancel flights as severe weather and the omicron COVID-19 variant impact the travel industry. As of noon EST today, approximately 1,300 flights in the United States were canceled, which means more than 20,000 flights have been canceled overall since Christmas Eve.

Orlando International Airport

While some cancellations were due to a winter storm in the mid-Atlantic area, others have been attributed to staffing issues as omicron cases surge. Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and United Airlines have begun offering extra pay to crews who can take extra shifts and trips as Southwest has canceled 314 flights and JetBlue has canceled 107 flights today.

Orlando Airport

Interestingly, U.S. airline stocks are trading higher Tuesday as analysts predict more travel demand this year. As reported by CNBC, Cowen airline analyst Helane Becker said that demand for air travel will continue to strengthen, and analysts “expect inflationary pressure in fuel and labor cost, as well as high-interest costs, to lead to higher ticket prices.”

Orlando International Airport

Essentially, demand for air travel will be strong this year, but some airlines might find difficulty meeting capacity. You might want to prepare for higher costs when it comes to airfare if you’re planning a trip in 2022, so keep reading DFB for more news that could impact your next Disney World trip!

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