Abhijith Ganapavaram & AishwaryaNair

(Reuters) Despite being offered a lot of financial incentives, U.S. airlines cabin crew, pilots, and support staff were reluctant to work overtime over the holidays because they fear contracting COVID-19. They also worry about dealing with disruptive passengers.

Unions stated that massive cancellations of flights occurred over the last week due to reluctance and bad weather. These issues could lead to more disruption in coming weeks as Omicron’s spread accelerates.

“We have negotiated vacation incentives to help with operational difficulties, but you’re only able to stretch people,” Sara Nelson was the international president of Association of Flight Attendants CWA (AFA). She represented 50,000 flight attendants at 17 airline companies in a release.

Airlines were trying to attract employees in the weeks leading to holidays after laying off or furloughing thousands of workers over the past 18 months due to the pandemic that decimated the industry.

Airline sector faces additional pressure because of the fact that employment remains below pre-pandemic levels but total hours worked has nearly rebounded.

According to AFA, the industry was optimistic that overtime would be available to allow them to fly record numbers of passengers.

The Omicron variant is rapidly spreading and is causing unprecedented COVID-19 case in the U.S. Staff have had to reconsider their workloads. Over 1,200 cancellations were made within the United States on Thursday at 3:29 PM. ET data from FlightAware.com flight-tracking site FlightAware.com.

United Airlines stated that Omicron cases have had an immediate impact on operations. Southwest Airlines (NYSE.) Co stated that it has not seen any effect on operations.

JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:) Corp announced that it would be reducing its schedule for Jan. 13, by approximately 1,280 flights, due to sick crew members.

Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:) indicated that incentive pay was being offered to flight crews, but provided no further details.

American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:). Alaska Air Group Inc., (NYSE: Spirit Airlines Skywest Inc (NYSE:) Hawaiian Holdings (NASDAQ:) Inc didn’t immediately reply to a request of comment.

On Thursday, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), stated that increasing numbers of employees have tested positive for COVID-19.

A spokesperson for the FAA stated, “To ensure safety, some traffic volumes could be reduced at certain facilities. This might cause delays during busy times.”

DIFFICULT PARENTS, TESTY

The number of flight crew and passengers involved in violent fights has also reached a new record this year. This led to the United States regulators taking a tougher stance. In November, the FAA reported that it had already referred over three dozen passengers who were disruptive to the FBI for possible criminal prosecution.

Many cabin crews worry about safety while onboard.

Thom McDaniel is the International Vice President of the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU). He said, “It’s just not worth the risk when tensions high to go out and risk getting hurt, or possibly disabled on-the job.” Thom McDaniel represents over 150,000 workers in several industries, including airline.

U.S. attorneys in Colorado have charged a Californian 20-year old man with attacking a flight attendant during an American Airlines flight that was scheduled for Santa Ana (California) on October 27, 2018. This forced the pilots of the aircraft to divert it.

TWU and AFA both made it clear that they want regulators to take action on the increasing incidents at board.

JUICY INCENTIVE PAY IS NOT ENOUGH

While airlines offer bonuses to employees who work during holidays and pay up to three times the salary, very few people take it seriously.

McDaniel stated that “a lot of flight attendants don’t want to take on (extra shifts), even for more pay, because they fear their safety.”

Extra pay was also rejected by pilots. According to an internal memo Reuters obtained last month, the American Airlines pilot union rejected the offer for double pay during holidays.

Dennis Tajer from the Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines pilots, stated that although there are FAA limits, they sometimes get surpassed.

Representatives of Delta pilots, the Allied Pilots Association said that resolving scheduling problems will be a top priority for the union when it returns to contract negotiations in January.