Qantas to Require COVID-19 Vaccination for International Travel
Joe Cortez September 09, 2021
After announcing their plans to reopen international travel, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce dropped another major requirement for those who wish to fly on those routes. When the Australian carrier resumes international travel, flyers will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Travelers who wish to travel to or from Australia aboard Qantas must provide several documents before they will be allowed to board their aircraft – including proof of COVID-19 vaccination. In an interview with the Trans-Tasman Business Circle, the leader announced the airline will make inoculation a requirement for all international travel.
Vaccination Requirement Part of Commitment to Responsible Travel
Joyce made the comments during a series of business discussions about vaccination, titled “Let’s Get On with the Jab.” During the conversation, the chief executive said getting a COVID-19 shot was not just about protecting their workforce, but their customers and communities as well.
“Qantas will have a policy that internationally we will only carry vaccinated passengers,” said Joyce when asked about future policy plans. “Because we think that’s going to be one of the requirements to show you are flying safe, and to get them into those countries.”
“The way people should think of it, it’s a bit like a visa. You know your status with visa’s to get into various countries,” said Joyce when explaining the process. “All the airline sees is a tick: Yes, this people has a valid visa to enter this country and allows us to check you in. It will be the exact same with the vaccination status. So if Biden has a requirement that you’re vaccinated to get to the [U.S.], before we can check you into the flight, we’ll have to check your vaccination status.”
The plan is receiving wide support from both the Australian Government, company employees and members of Qantas Frequent Flyer. An internal survey of over 12,000 employees revealed 95 percent planned to get fully vaccinated against the novel Coronavirus. In addition, around 300,000 loyalty program members uploaded their vaccination certificates to earn a reward of points, a $20 off coupon, or 15 status credits. To date, the company has given away 220 million Frequent Flyer points.
The policy won’t only apply to those who plan on traveling with Qantas. The company is also requiring all employees to get an approved COVID-19 vaccination by November 15, 2021.
Vaccine Requirement Coincides With Resuming International Travel
The announcement is in concert with Qantas’ plan to resume international travel. In August 2021, the carrier announced which routes would be served by their Airbus A330 and A380 aircraft by 2022.
Yes. Good. When I was a kid this was an immigration requirement for certain countries. Hell it was a requirement for school. These entitled, selfish , winers just don't know.
The funniest part of all of this is that, despite the endless whining from the antivaxxers — whining that will no doubt dominate the comments sections of most news stories and social-media posts about this decision — Qantas's lost revenues from a lack of antivax passengers will be negligible. And Qantas may even net out ahead, because there is an increasingly clear correlation — certainly not 100%, but still strong — between wealth, education, and vaccination rates within the U.S. and other high-income countries. Older individuals and those living in major U.S. and European cities are also more likely to be vaccinated than their countrymen. In other words: The people who can and do fly international airlines in premium classes are especially likely to be vaccinated. And many of them may choose to fly Qantas over a carrier where a quarter of the passengers are likely to be unvaccinated. For however many antivaxxers Qantas loses (and again, they're probably a very small revenue share), it may make of their revenue and more by appealing to vaccinated flyers.
Like Deutsches Bahn and Bayer before them, there's no shortage of corporate and individuals flocking to be collaborators to tyranny. Censorship and gulags for anyone who resists the seig heil narratives.
Bravo Qantas. Hopefully other carriers will follow suit.
Yeah, Dr.Ells, those fascists with their polio and measles vaccines. You claim is false, of course. Governments have required vaccines for various reasons for a long time, and while you may be able to choose not to take one, you rightfully will suffer whatever consequences they impose.