Qantas wants to make vaccination against COVID-19 compulsory for passengers once the airline resumes international flying.
CEO Alan Joyce said “we are looking at changing our terms and conditions to say for international travellers, that we will ask people to have a vaccination before they can get on the aircraft.”
The prospects of mandatory vaccination on domestic flights would depend on “what happens with COVID-19 in the market, but certainly for international visitors coming out, and people leaving the country, we think that’s a necessity.”
Joyce said told Australia’s A Current Affair “proof of vaccination would likely be stored in an electronic ‘digital passport’ which is already under development by airlines and governments around the world.”
A global requirement
Qantas would not be alone in insisting that travellers pack a passport containing proof of vaccination.
“I’ve been talking with my colleagues at other airlines around the globe, and I think that’s going to be a common theme across the board,” Joyce added.
Air New Zealand Responds
An Air New Zealand spokeswoman told Chris Lynch the company is encouraged by the news around vaccines.
She said “our Chief Medical Officer Dr Ben Johnston talks regularly with colleagues at other airlines and is a member of the IATA Medical Advisory Group.”
“This group is active in proposing guidelines for how to get international travel moving again in a safe way.”
“We are also talking to our freight forwarding customers on how we can play our part in bringing a vaccine or vaccines safely into New Zealand and across our domestic network.”
“Ultimately, it’s up to governments to determine when and how it is safe to reopen borders and we continue to work closely with authorities on this.”
International Air Transport Association calls on Governments to support additional travel measures
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced overnight that it is in the final development phase of the IATA Travel Pass, a digital health pass that will support the safe reopening of borders.
IATA is calling for “Governments with the means to verify the authenticity of tests and the identity of those presenting the test certificates.”
“Airlines with the ability to provide accurate information to their passengers on test requirements and verify that a passenger meets the requirements for travel.”
“Laboratories with the means to issue digital certificates to passengers that will be recognized by governments, and; Travelers with accurate information on test requirements, where they can get tested or vaccinated, and the means to securely convey test information to airlines and border authorities.”
IATA’s Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac “today borders are double locked. Testing is the first key to enable international travel without quarantine measures.”
“The second key is the global information infrastructure needed to securely manage, share and verify test data matched with traveler identities in compliance with border control requirements.”
“That’s the job of IATA Travel Pass. We are bringing this to market in the coming months to also meet the needs of the various travel bubbles and public health corridors that are starting operation.”
