The Abu Dhabi flagship carrier is the first airline in the world to have all its pilots and flight attendants vaccinated, to curb the spread of COVID-19. But Etihad Airways is not the only airline leading by example.
Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi flagship carrier, set a precedent when it became the first airline to fully vaccinate its air crews, including pilots and flight attendants. As explained by Tony Douglas, Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group: “We proactively made the vaccine available to all our employees to not only help combat the effects of COVID-19 but to make travelers feel confident and reassured the next time they fly with us. We are the only airline in the world to make COVID-19 testing mandatory for every passenger and crew member before every flight and now, we’re the first airline in the world with 100% vaccinated crew on board.”
But mere days after Etihad Airways’ announcement, the Singapore Airlines Group (SIA) also announced it has begun operating flights with all flight crews fully vaccinated against corona, having received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The first three flights with a fully vaccinated crew were SIA flight to Jakarta, Indonesia, a Scoot flight to Bangkok, Thailand and a SilkAir flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
According to Mr Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, “We are very encouraged by the strong take-up rate for the vaccine from our colleagues. Vaccinations will be key to the reopening of borders and to enhancing travel confidence, in tandem with robust testing regimes and the wide-ranging safe management measures that are in place on the ground and in the air. They offer greater protection for our people and provide an added layer of assurance to our customers.”
And as Shimon Yaish first shared on Israel Hayom, the largest Israeli carrier El Al has also joined the airlines leading by example, with all crews in contact with customers inoculated against COVID-19, including pilots, flight attendants, security and all other employees in direct contact with passengers.
