(Adds outbreak among flight attendants)
MEXICO CITY, Jan 7 (Reuters) – More than 70 Grupo Aeromexico
pilots have tested positive for the coronavirus during a surge
of infections from the Omicron variant, leading to 22 canceled
flights, a union that represents pilots of the Mexican airline
said.
Jose Suarez, press secretary for pilots’ association ASPA,
told television station Milenio the cases triggered a “domino
effect,” forcing Aeromexico to isolate entire crews to prevent
the virus from spreading.
ASPA Secretary General Jose Gual told the same TV station
that the pilots who tested positive made up 5% of Aeromexico
pilots represented by ASPA.
He added the cancellations represented 5% of Aeromexico’s
operations and affected planes heading to the Mexican cities of
Guadalajara, Cancun and Monterrey, plus an international flight.
Among Aeromexico’s flight attendants, 140 had tested
positive, according to a statement on Thursday by the Trade
Union Association of Aviation Flight Attendants of Mexico
(ASSA).
An additional 65 of the company’s flight attendants were
suspended for not having the valid travel documents, ASSA said.
The absent workers represent 10.3% of the airline’s staff,
the statement added.
“We are seeing a quite severe wave of infections,” ASPA’s
Gual said. He attributed the jump to the highly contagious
Omicron variant that has caused airlines around the world https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/airlines-grapple-with-omicron-related-disruptions-start-off-2022-2022-01-02
to cancel hundreds of flights during the busy winter travel
season.
Aeromexico said the new spread of COVID-19 had affected
“some flights,” without providing details.
“The safety of our customers and collaborators is and will
always be the main priority,” Aeromexico said in a statement.
The company did not respond to questions about COVID-19
cases among its pilots and crew members, or about exactly how
many flights had been canceled.
Mexico is likely to surpass 300,000 deaths https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-nears-300000-deaths-covid-19-cases-surge-after-holidays-2022-01-06
from COVID-19 this week as infections rise after the holiday
season, fueled by Omicron and largely unrestricted tourism to
Mexico City and beach destinations Cancun and Los Cabos.
(Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon, Kylie Madry and Valentine
Hilaire; Editing by Richard Chang and Grant McCool)
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Keywords: MEXICO AEROMEXICO/ (UPDATE 1, PIX)
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