CANCELED: Airlines shut down nearly 1,500 flights on Friday alone

Airlines on Friday canceled a total of 1,482 flights within, entering, or leaving the United States.

A further 7,000 delays on the same day added to the confusion, according to The Hill. American Airlines and Southwest canceled the most flights with 263 and 193 respectively.

The airline industry has struggled to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic during which governments imposed harsh restrictions on air travel that throttled business. Airline mask mandates have lingered longer than most, while the nation continued to require COVID-19 tests prior to boarding until June.

American Airlines did not post a profit until the first quarter of 2022, roughly two years after the start of the pandemic.