WestJet to cancel 15% of flights due to COVID-19 related staff shortages

WestJet is dealing with so many employees out sick with the Omicron variant that it is being forced to cut 15% of its scheduled flights through to the end of January. WestJet spokeswoman Morgan Bell confirmed via email that the airline has seen a 35% rise in active COVID-19 cases among staff in recent days, with 181 employees currently testing positive for virus. In a statement Thursday, WestJet's interim CE Harry Taylor said the airline has seen a significant increase in delays and cancellations impacting its business over the past 72 hours. “We could not have anticipated the rapid and unpredictable impact of the Omicron variant on our people and operations, coupled with prolonged frigid temperatures across Western Canada and global staffing shortages,” Taylor said. “Despite all contingency planning, in addition to hiring back thousands of WestJetters to safely support peak operations, we find ourselves no longer able to predictably resource our planned schedule due to Omicron impact.” As a result of the staff shortages, WestJet will remove about 15% of flights from its schedule through Jan. 31. Prior to the cuts, which will be implemented over the next few days, the airline has been operating 450 flights per day. The move is a “last resort,” Taylor said, but reflects the reality of the service level WestJet can now “realistically deliver.”<br/>