Australia's Qantas to require all employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19

SYDNEY - Qantas Airways said on Wednesday (Aug 18) it would require all of its employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19 as part of its broader commitment to safety, in line with some other airlines globally.

Pilots, cabin crew and airport workers will need to be fully vaccinated by Nov 15, while other staff will have until March 31, 2022, the airline said.

There will be exemptions for those who are unable to be vaccinated based on documented medical reasons, which it said was expected to be very rare.

The airline said a staff poll found that 89 per cent had already been vaccinated or were planning to be and around three-quarters of staff felt it should be a requirement.

“It’s clear that vaccinations are the only way to end the cycle of lockdowns and border closures and for a lot of Qantas and Jetstar employees that means getting back to work again,” Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said in a statement.

Qantas this month said it was temporarily idling about 2,500 employees without pay for at least two months in a bid to cope with fresh Covid-19 restrictions in Australia that have slashed domestic travel demand.

The airline has previously said it will require all international passengers to be vaccinated once Australia’s borders reopen.

United Airlines this month became the first US airline to require Covid-19 vaccinations for all domestic employees, in a move that was followed by Hawaiian Airlines.

Cathay Pacific Airways said in June that all Hong Kong-based pilots and flight attendants would need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by Aug 31 or risk losing their jobs.