Jemma Newlyn
International Travel

COVID-19 vaccination to become compulsory for international travel

The CEO of Qantas, Alan Joyce, has warned international travellers that compulsory vaccinations will be required in the future.

Mr Joyce noted that as soon as a vaccine becomes available, while domestic travel may be exempt, the terms and conditions will change for international journeys.

"For international travellers that we will ask people to have a vaccination before they get on the aircraft."

"Certainly, for international visitors coming out and people leaving the country we think that's a necessity."

The Qantas CEO told A Current Affair that this will be something required all around the world.

"I think that's going to be a common thing talking to my colleagues in other airlines around the globe."

Alan Joyce also mentioned that by Christmas, 60 percent of the flights from Sydney to Melbourne should be running. 

"Aussies love to travel, the two cities are unbelievably well connected, and we went from 45 flights a day before COVID, to one flight a day," Mr Joyce said.

The route has just re-opened again.

"Today we're back to 70 flights on the first day of opening up."

And post-Christmas he hopes they'll be able re-activate 1000 jobs for the people who were stood down in the height of the pandemic in March. 

"If we can get Melbourne and Sydney back to where it was pre-COVID that will be 3000 people that didn't have a role, were stood down, were working at Woolworths, somewhere else that are working for the airline again."

The CEO said domestic flights between Sydney and Melbourne have already proven popular, with 25,000 seats sold within 48 hours

Check out the full story here.

Tags:
Travel International, Travel, borders, restrictions, Domestic Travel