Airline will only allow international travellers who have had Covid vaccine

Qantas are looking at changing their terms and conditions so a vaccine is necessary (Picture: Getty Images)

An airline has said they won’t let international passengers board their flights unless they have proof they’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19. Alan Joyce, CEO of Australian flag carrier Qantas, said the move would be a ‘necessity’ once restrictions across the world begin to ease. He told Australia’s Nine Network that the company were currently looking at changing their terms and conditions to ensure all international travellers are vaccinated. He went on: ‘Whether you need that domestically, we will have to see what happens with Covid-19 and the market. But certainly for international visitors coming out and people leaving the country, we think that’s a necessity.’ He later told radio station 3AW that exemptions from the vaccine on medical grounds should be ‘the only basis’ in which someone boards a Qantas flight without one.

Mr Joyce added that the current trading conditions were the worst the airline had experienced in its 100-year history. He went on: ‘The impact of Covid on all airlines is clear – it’s devastating.’ Australia shut down their international borders at the beginning of the pandemic. Earlier this month the government released its vaccination policy, stating that they will be required for anyone entering or returning to the country.

 

Several vaccines are said to be around 95% effective against the virus (Picture: Getty Images)

 

It comes as several vaccine trials have confirmed positive trial results in the past weeks. Today the Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine trials said they had demonstrated 90% effectiveness, after revealing they had 70% efficacy on Monday. Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine, which is said to be 95% effective, has now passed a number of safety tests which allow it to meet the criteria needed for emergency authorisation. This means it could be rolled out by the end of this year.

US firm Moderna say their vaccine candidate is also nearly 95% effective in stopping people getting the virus across all age groups. Qantas’ new rules have already sparked a mixed reaction on social media, with some passengers stating they will ‘boycott’ the airline as a result. One journalist wrote: ‘Qantas could have gone with any number of options. Rapid testing. Proof of negative test on flying but it’s attempting to force a medical decision on customers. Im not anti-vax. I’m vaccinated. I am also vehemently anti corporate bullying under the guise of “health”.’ While a travel author noted: ‘I fully believe a Covid vaccine is going to be required for travel to the vast majority of the world. Anti-vaxxers are in for a very rude awakening the next time they plan a vacation.’

 

Source:metro.co.uk/