Air NZ proposes making Covid-19 vaccination compulsory for 4000 staff

Air New Zealand is proposing making Covid-19 vaccination compulsory for about 4000 staff, roughly half its workforce. About 2300 Air New Zealand cabin crew, pilots, engineering and maintenance, airport and supply chain workers are already covered by a mandatory vaccination order introduced by the Government in July. These workers must have had their first Covid-19 vaccine dose by September 30 and be fully vaccinated by early November. So far more than 86% have received their first dose of the vaccine and 82% have received both doses. Air NZ is now considering expanding the requirement for mandatory vaccination to include all staff who interact with customers or their baggage, and those who were required to come into the workplace when public health measures required working from home where possible. Staff have until September 15 to provide feedback. Air NZ’s chief operational integrity and safety officer, captain David Morgan, said the company would make a decision by September 17 after reviewing the feedback. The transmissibility of the Delta variant had shifted the risk profile of Covid-19, and the airline had an obligation to protect the health and safety of its staff and their families, he said. The company had not formed a view on whether it could dismiss staff affected by the proposal who did not want to receive a vaccine. “There are plenty of opportunities within the business for other roles,” Morgan said. He said Air New Zealand was one of the first companies to discuss compulsory vaccination publicly and it would set a precedent.<br/>