Qantas says that a Covid-19 vaccine will be mandatory for all Australians flying overseas with the airline once international travel returns in 2021.
Exceptions would likely be made for New Zealand and potentially other countries involved in a Covid-safe ‘travel bubble’, along with passengers who qualify for a medical exemption.
“Once a safe and effective vaccine becomes readily available, it will be a requirement for travel on our international services,” Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce confirmed during a market update this morning.
Joyce said that flights to New Zealand “will probably be exempt given their success at controlling COVID,” while “there will be some exceptions for people who can’t, for medical reasons, take vaccines.”
However, compulsory vaccination won’t be required for domestic flights.
While Joyce said he acknowledged that “some people are opposed to vaccines in-principle… we ask everyone who travels on Qantas and Jetstar to respect our safety protocols – which will include a COVID vaccine for international flights, at least until the pandemic is under control overseas.”
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