A COVID Vaccine Might Be Mandatory for Qantas International Flights

“We will ask people to have a vaccination before they get on the aircraft.”

COVID Vaccine Might Be Mandatory for Qantas International Flights

 

The CEO of Qantas, Alan Joyce, has shared that the airline might make it mandatory for people to get a COVID vaccine before they board Qantas International flights after the flights re-open. This announcement was not gracefully accepted by people who favour anti-vaccination.

 

On Monday, Joyce said this during an interview about COVID vaccine and resumption of Qantas international flights. “We are looking at changing our terms and conditions to say that, for international travellers, we will ask people to have a vaccination before they get on the aircraft.”

He added, “Whether you need that domestically, we will have to see with COVID-19 and the market but certainly, for international visitors coming out [of Australia] and people leaving the country we think that’s a necessity.”

 

Indicating that other airlines might follow Qantas policies regarding COVID vaccine and boarding Qantas International flights, Joyce stated: “I think that’s going to be a common thing talking to my colleagues in other airlines around the globe.”

Reiterating that Qantas international flights won’t probably resume soon in the US and Europe until COVID vaccine arrives, he said “Unfortunately with the levels of the virus in the United States and in Europe, we’re not going to see operations to those destinations in any real strength until we see a vaccine being rolled out, which is likely towards the end of 2021,”

 

The Chairman of Qantas, Richard Goyder did not say anything about COVID vaccine when he shared some of the Qantas International flight plans in October. He had said, “By early next year, we may find that Korea, Taiwan and various islands in the Pacific are top Qantas destinations while we wait for our core international markets like the US and UK to re-open.”

As expected, anti-vaxxers are not happy about the statements of Joyce regarding COVID vaccine and boarding Qantas International flights. Reignite Democracy Australia posted this on Facebook “Hell NO. I’ll never fly Qantas again.” After that, a poll was initiated that asked followers if they would take a vaccine to travel.

Medical Freedom Australia posted this on Facebook- “Ummm… there goes overseas travel for me folks! I will sign their contract if they sign mine.”

Similarly, the makinginformedchoices2 account posted this – “Definitely will NOT be travelling on @Qantas tag them below. Or share onto your story and tag to let them know WE DO NOT CONSENT TO THIS BS.”

 

If Joyce moves forward with his plans to ask people to get a COVID vaccine before they board Qantas international flights, the airline will face many objections. It is too early to say anything as Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech have not even started the manufacturing for public use yet.

 

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