Airlines began preemptively canceling flights shortly before Christmas as staff members called out sick after testing positive, mirroring a national surge in coronavirus cases. Carriers might have a chance to regain some footing as travel eases between Christmas and New Year’s, but the latest figures suggest more cancellations are likely in the days ahead. “The system is under duress,” said Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, which represents crews at American Airlines.

That dastardly (insert variant here) is the cause!