CLEVELAND — Across the country, flights are being delayed or cancelled because of the growing number of COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant. That wasn't necessarily the case locally.
The arrivals area at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is where people are waiting for their ride, or their ride is waiting for them on Christmas Eve.
Gwen Gleason has been waiting for this moment for a long time. She's surrounded by traffic and people loading up cars with as much as their checked bags could bring.
Gleason and her husband drove in from New York to pick up their son, who hasn't been home for the holidays in a few years.
As they wait, more people arrive and reunite.
One thing we're not hearing a lot of are Christmas Eve delays or cancellations
"We've had no issues, no delays, everything's been comfortable, everyone's been in a really great mood, it's been great," Punita Vakil said.
At this point, Vakil and her family are practically experts. They've flown to the Dominican Republic, to Orlando and now here to Cleveland.
"We're using lots of sanitizer wipes, just staying safe and double masking at the parks," Vakil said.
At the Akron Canton Airport, even despite being a busy travel time, it's all calm.
So the story here for many is reunions after masking up, sanitizing, testing and taking the risk to fly.
Here at the Hopkins arrival area, there's anticipation, especially in the Gleason's car.
"Just want to give him a big hug," Gleason said.
Thanks to an on-time flight from Texas, her wish was granted.
We've been tracking the flight statuses at Hopkins throughout Friday.There were a couple of cancellations, but the majority are making it in the air with no worries.
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