David Schaper - NPR

Memorial Day weekend kicks off the busy summer air travel season and this may be the busiest ever. But some worry it could be another summer of delays and cancellations after a "pretty rocky" 2022.

Air travel demand is back to pre-pandemic levels, while fares are soaring. Staffing shortages leave airlines with little wiggle room when bad weather hits, which could lead to delays and cancellations.

The rapid emergence of the omicron variant of the coronavirus has many questioning whether they should rethink their holiday travel plans.

Brace yourself for long lines in crowded airports and jam packed flights, because the early pandemic days of half-empty planes are long gone.