More than 1,700 flights canceled Wednesday as airlines’ troubles persist

Travelers faced more frustrating news Wednesday, with more than 1,700 flight cancellations, a sign that staffing shortages and weather-related issues continue to stymie airlines’ efforts to get customers to their destinations. There is no indication when flight operations may stabilize. Monday, when more than 3,000 U.S. flights were canceled, was the worst day for those traveling during the holiday period. By Tuesday, the number had dropped to just over 1,500, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. Even so, since Dec. 24, the travel plans of thousands of people have been disrupted by a combination of bad weather and staffing shortages. Those shortages have been attributed to a rise in coronavirus infections among airline employees — a trend that mirrors what is happening in other business sectors. Nearly 20,000 US flights have been canceled since Christmas Eve. JetBlue trimmed more than 1,200 flights from its schedule this month to try to better aligning available staffing with flight offerings. Over the past two weeks, virtually all U.S. airlines have canceled or delayed flights, leaving travelers with few options for rebooking. Weather is often a factor during the days around Christmas and New Year’s, but operations have been complicated by higher-than-expected numbers of employees taking sick leave because of the coronavirus.<br/>