What happens when you have a surging Omicron variant and a busy travel season?
Trouble.
As many as 3.5 million people are projected to travel through Los Angeles International Airport from Dec. 16-Jan. 3, according to airport officials, making it the busiest travel period this year. By many accounts, airlines and airports have not absorbed the rebound very well so far, with staffing shortages, shifting safety protocols and rowdy passengers bogging down travel.
Now, with the Omicron variant spreading quickly and many travelers determined to forge ahead with holiday plans, months of preparation by airlines and airport staff will face a test at large airports such as LAX.
Testing is also ramping up as families and friend get together over the Christmas holidays.
Passengers exit the customs and baggage claim area at Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Martina Sung, left, of Los Angeles, greets her grandson Heinrich Sung, 7, who is visiting from Europe, at Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Stefano Agosto of Culver City waits for his sister Caterina Agosto, who arrived from Italy, at LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal on Wednesday.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
A person receives a COVID-19 vaccination at LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal on Wednesday. Free vaccinations and booster shots are offered on-site through L.A. County Department of Public Health.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Sun Yun of Irvine waits for his girlfriend to arrive Wednesday at LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Tina Lord, left, greets her son Elliot Wrigley, 13, visiting from London, at LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal on Wednesday.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
A healthcare worker hands a COVID-19 test kit at a drive-through testing site at La Sierra Park in Riverside.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“Rapidly, Omicron is overtaking Delta. I would say within the next two weeks, it’s almost all going to Omicron.”
— Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer
A man swabs his nose at a Union Station COVID testing kiosk on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
People seeking COVID tests line up to access a site in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium on Tuesday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
“We are experiencing the surge that we have been anticipating was coming.”
— San Francisco Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax
Travelers wait for their holiday flights at John Wayne Airport.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Holly Goodwin, of Garden Gove, picks up a free COVID-19 test self-collection kit from the Orange County Health Care Agency after arriving on a flight Tuesday at John Wayne Airport.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Passengers in the arrival deck wait for shuttles at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday.
(Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
