CALGARY—WestJet Airlines Ltd. is dealing with so many employees out sick with the Omicron variant that it is being forced to cut 15 percent of its scheduled flights through to the end of January. WestJet spokeswoman Morgan Bell confirmed via email that the airline has seen a 35 percent rise in active COVID-19 cases among staff in recent days, with 181 employees currently testing positive for virus. In a statement Thursday, WestJet’s interim chief executive Harry Taylor said the airline has seen a significant increase in delays and cancellations impacting its business over the past 72 hours. “We could not have anticipated the rapid and unpredictable impact of the Omicron variant on our people and operations, coupled with prolonged frigid temperatures across Western Canada and global staffing shortages,” Taylor said. “Despite all contingency planning, in addition to hiring back thousands of WestJetters to safely support peak operations, we find ourselves …