FedEx: Omicron will lead to shipment delays, staff shortages

Robert Besser
12 Jan 2022, 03:23 GMT+10

Federal Express has warned that rising numbers of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant will lead to staff shortages and delays to shipments transported by air
Severe winter storms in the U.S., including one that hit the main FedEX air hub in Memphis, Tennessee, have caused challenges
Rival United Parcel Service said employees calling in sick due to Omicron are not impacting their services, as it also has contingency plans in place

MEMPHIS, Tennessee: Federal Express has warned that rising numbers of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant will lead to staff shortages and delays to shipments transported by air.

"The explosive surge of the COVID-19 Omicron variant has caused a temporary shortage of available crew members and operational staff," the company said in a statement.

Severe winter storms in the U.S., including one that hit the main FedEX air hub in Memphis, Tennessee, have caused challenges, and FedEx officials said they are implementing contingency plans and adjusting operations to minimize disruptions, the company added.

Rival United Parcel Service (UPS) said employees calling in sick due to Omicron are not impacting their services, as it also has contingency plans in place.

"Recent weather events in the Louisville, Kentucky and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania areas caused some delivery delays," said a UPS spokesperson, as reported by Reuters.

The rapid spread of the Omicron variant and extreme winter weather have forced several American airlines to cancel flights, as pilots and crew were required to quarantine.

On January 6, inadequate staffing levels and other issues forced the U.S. Postal Service, one of the country's largest public employers, with 650,000 employees, to request a delay in carrying out the Biden administration's new vaccine or testing requirements covering large businesses.

According to Reuters, U.S. coronavirus deaths have risen by 2,133 to reach 836,901.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Mexico Star.

More Information

7 ℃

Fair in Mexico City Intl

Lifestyle

Section

After becoming oldest living man, Spaniard dies at 112

LEON, Spain: Saturnino de la Fuente Garca, believed to be the world's oldest man, died on January 18 at age ...

During lockdown, free flowers handed out to mark Tulip Day

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: As stores in Amsterdam and across the Netherlands cautiously reopened after a COVID-19 lockdown, thousands of free bunches ...

Study reveals which alcoholic drink is best at preventing Covid

Researchers have established a connection between alcohol consumption and Covid-related risksA team of Chinese scientists has analyzed the association between ...