Over 200 flights canceled in US and Germany due to omicron strain

German airline Lufthansa and US Delta Air Lines and United Airlines canceled hundreds of international and domestic flights before Christmas due to employee illnesses caused by the spread of the covid-19 omicron strain , reports the Associated Press.

“The nationwide spike in omicron cases this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operations,” United Airlines said in a statement.

Delta Air Lines also confirmed to the agency that the cancellation of flights is directly related to the spread of the omicron strain among employees, while Lufthansa indicated that the company is recording a "massive increase" in the number of sick leave among pilots.

Delta Air Lines canceled 111 flights over Christmas, United Airlines canceled 69 flights, and Lufthansa canceled at least "a dozen long-haul transatlantic flights," according to AP.