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International air travel could be booming again next year, but with a new rule: travelers in certain countries must be vaccinated against the coronavirus before they can fly.
Encouraging news of vaccine development has given airlines and nations hope that they may soon be able to restore suspended flight routes and brush up on lucrative travel plans. But countries in Asia and the Pacific, in particular, are determined not to evaporate their hard-earned money against the virus.
In Australia, the head of Qantas, the country’s largest airline, said that once a vaccine against the virus is widely available, its carrier will likely require passengers to use it before they can travel overseas or land in. Australia.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said he has spoken to his counterparts at other airlines around the world about the possibility of a “vaccination passport” for international travelers.
“We are trying to change our terms and conditions to tell international travelers that we will ask people to get vaccinated before boarding the plane,” Joyce told Australian television Network Nine.
He said they were looking for ways to electronically verify that people have the vaccine they need for their intended destination, a difficult task.
“But certainly for international visitors who go out and people who leave the country, we think it’s a necessity,” he said.
WATCH | Qantas Airline CEO Alan Joyce explains the company’s stance on COVID-19 vaccine requirements:
Qantas airline CEO Alan Joyce said his company is trying to require international passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 before boarding a flight, as the industry appears to be headed in that direction. (Dean Lewins / AAP Image / Reuters) 0:48
It is not “for the airlines to decide for themselves”
South Korea’s largest airline has a similar message. Jill Chung, a spokesperson for Korean Air, said on Tuesday that there is a real possibility that airlines will require passengers to be vaccinated. He said it’s because governments are likely to require vaccinations as a condition for lifting quarantine requirements for newcomers.
While Korean Air is looking into different screening possibilities, any changes by the airline or other airlines would be the result of coordination with governments, Chung said.
“It’s not something that airlines have to decide independently,” he said.
Air New Zealand echoed Chung’s position.
“Ultimately, it is up to governments to determine when and how safe it is to reopen the borders and we continue to work closely with the authorities on this,” Air New Zealand said in a statement.
Australia, South Korea and New Zealand have managed to minimize the spread of the virus. They are viewed internationally as success stories, and much of their containment effort has focused on keeping infectious people away.
Since the start of the pandemic, Australia has imposed some of the toughest restrictions on the world’s borders. It closed its borders to most international visitors and allowed its citizens to travel internationally only in special circumstances. New Zealand has also closed its borders, while South Korea has imposed a two-week quarantine on all arriving passengers.
Australia, with 26 million people, has reported around 900 deaths since the start of the pandemic, fewer than many nations of its size. South Korea, with 51 million people, reported just over 500 deaths. And New Zealand, with five million people, reported only 25 deaths.
The app may evaluate the results of virus tests
Chung said there are already a number of discussions within the industry to ensure safer travel during the pandemic. These include “Common Pass” tests, an app approved by the World Economic Forum that aims to provide a standardized format for airlines to evaluate the results of passengers’ coronavirus tests to determine if they should travel.
“With the world getting closer to coronavirus vaccines and negative tests also becoming requirements for relieving travelers from self-quarantines in countries around the world, airlines feel the need for an effective system to check passengers for vaccinations and tests, “Chung said.
Several companies have tested possible viral vaccines with encouraging results. Many people are hoping vaccinations will become widely available next year, paving the way for a wider reopening of international air travel.
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters Tuesday that a decision had not yet been made on border or re-entry rules regarding potential vaccines.
“Our job is to provide the vaccine to all Australians,” he said.
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