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Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas' parent company, made this announcement in an interview on September 8th. "Qantas will have an international policy where we only accept vaccinated passengers, as we believe that is one of the requirements to ensure you are flying safely." He also expressed hope that this policy could be launched before Christmas.
Qantas placed vaccination at the heart of its marketing strategy throughout the pandemic, and became one of the first airlines to require passengers on international flights to be vaccinated.
Joyce added: "We believe everyone should first protect themselves. We also want to protect our colleagues, our passengers, and the entire community."
Qantas has required all of its frontline staff to be vaccinated by early November, with the remaining staff to be vaccinated before March 31, 2022.
A Qantas spokesperson said the airline would allow those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons to fly, but the policy for underage children is not yet finalized. Furthermore, there is no information on whether Qantas will require passengers on domestic flights to also be vaccinated.
To date, Australia's borders remain completely closed, with exemptions granted only to Australian citizens and permanent residents, along with a select few who can demonstrate a need for travel. Other airlines have also required their flight attendants and pilots to be vaccinated, but only a few have made similar requirements for passengers on their flights.
