In the US, over 3,000 flights were canceled,while more than 9,600 were delayed on Christmas morning due to severe winter weather, according to CNET.
In addition to the bad weather condition, staffing shortages also contributed to the problem.
The Record of Canceled Flights on Christmas Day Increased this Year
According to flight tracking site FlightAware, airlines around the world canceled 5,775 trips on Christmas Eve while nearly 19,000 more were delayed.
Of that total number of canceled flights, some 3,488 were into, within, or out of the US.
The record of canceled flights on this year's Christmas day is above last year's, according to the data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
On average, roughly 420 flights a day were canceled in December 2021, and only about 3,800 were delayed.
Partly because of Winter Storm Elliott, Southwest Airlines was ranked the worst among US-based airlines for on-time departures, with 471 canceled flights and 1,112 delays.
The said number of canceled flights is about 12% of its entire schedule and the record of delayed flights is about 30%.
Travel industry blog View from the Wing notes that Southwest has been experiencing a shortage of pilots and ramp agents.
The airline's customer service line has also been so besieged it reportedly stopped taking calls.
Southwest issued a "state of operational emergency" at its hub, Denver International Airport, on Saturday as almost half, or 46%, of its flights were delayed.
Meanwhile, Delta came in a close second for the airline with the most missed flights on Christmas morning. The airline recorded 445 cancellations and 231 delays.
In a statement posted on its website, Delta said that they never take flight cancelation lightly, particularly during the holiday season.
However, their customers and staff are important to them, according to Delta.
The airline added that as much as possible, they strive to cancel flights in advance of the scheduled departure to let their customers make necessary adjustments before going to the airport.
The next closest carrier, United, only managed to register 145 cancellations and 312 delays.
Atlanta, Denver, and Seattle Airports Recorded the Most Cancellations
Amid flight cancelations and delays, travelers are uncertain if they will be able to make it to their destinations.
According to Business Insider, a warning has been issued by the National Weather Service that there will be blizzards in the Midwest.
In addition, an Arctic blast is expected to spread across central and eastern US states during the holiday weekend. According to reports, the conditions are "potentially life-threatening hazards for travelers."
According to FlightAware, Atlanta, Denver, and Seattle airports have the most cancellations of flights in the US.
Denver International ranked number one with the most cancellations. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the world's busiest airport for passengers, emerged as the second airport with the most cancelations and delays as of 10 p.m. Sunday.
Meanwhile, Harry Reid International (LAS) in Las Vegas had the third-most cancellations.
Buffalo Niagara International Airport released a statement that it would remain closed entirely until 11 am. Tuesday, December 27.
