Alan Joyce slammed over COVID vaccination rule for Qantas flights

There are calls to boycott Qantas after boss Alan Joyce said passengers would have to be vaccinated against COVID if they wanted to fly overseas.

Outraged customers have vowed never again to fly with Qantas after the airline’s boss said vaccinations against COVID-19 would be mandatory for all passengers on international flights.

Alan Joyce has been making global headlines this morning after he revealed once a vaccine became available, it would be a condition of travel with Qantas.

“For international travellers, we will ask people to have a vaccination before they get on the aircraft,’’ he said on A Current Affair last night.

“Certainly, for international visitors coming out and people leaving the country, we think that’s a necessity.”

Mr Joyce suggested anti-vaxxers who weren’t happy with that rule may struggle to find an alternative airline to fly with.

“I think that’s going to be a common thing, talking to my colleagues in other airlines around the globe,” he said.

His comments sparked an immediate wave of fury from people who objected to the policy.

“What right does Alan Joyce have to demand that we will only be allowed to travel with Qantas if we first prove we have been vaccinated against COVID-19?” someone asked on Twitter.

“My health and vaccination status is none of his concern.”

What right does Alan Joyce have to demand that we will only be allowed to travel with @Qantas if we first prove we have been vaccinated against covid19? @VictorianCHO My health and vaccination status is none of his concern. Perhaps l will fly Qatar?

— Francis_Young (@commonsense058) November 23, 2020

This is incredible! @Qantas airline will be requiring vaccination before boarding their flights. Is the dystopia real enough for you? https://t.co/3JiCWbpHkL

— Michael (@HegKong) November 23, 2020

I will never use Qantas ever again and I hope the world boycotts any company that uses this behaviour. ✌️

— Hugh Finn (@Hughbanjo) November 23, 2020

How about no?
I'll get a vaccine after I've seen them in use for a year or two before I decide to use it.
I'm in no hurry to be flying anywhere I can't fly or drive myself thanks.

— Peter (@crankyfucker) November 23, 2020

Some people said while they didn’t object to vaccines in theory, they had a problem with the national carrier making them mandatory.

Others expressed unease due to the speed at which a potential COVID-19 vaccine was likely to be developed and rolled out.

Drug companies Pfizer and Moderna, who both say their vaccine candidates are more than 90 per cent effective, have flagged they could become available next year.

“I’m no anti-vaxxer, but forced vaccination, especially of such a new drug, is NOT okay,” one person tweeted.

“If Qantas really go ahead, we may have to seek judges’ ruling.”

Qantas could have gone with any number of options. Rapid testing. Proof of negative test on flying but it's attempting to force a medical decision on customers. Im not anti vax. I'm vaccinated. I am also vehemently anti corporate bullying under the guise of "health".#CovidAu

— GemmaTognini (@GemmaTognini) November 23, 2020

Forcing a medical procedure upon a person against their will is a violation of the Nuremberg code.

Making a potentially dangerous and unnecessary vaccine a mandatory condition before flight is a step too far. I wont be flying with @Qantas again until this rule is abolished.

— Jim Corr (@Jimcorrsays) November 23, 2020

Going to be a huge legal and moral fight, especially as far as kids is concerned, but also for many adults. This will be illegal in many parts of the world. And how is @Qantas going to judge effectiveness of Chinese, Russian and other vaccines? Joyce hasn’t thought this through.

— Joe Harvey (@SensibleSenta) November 23, 2020

Others congratulated Qantas for putting the “safety of passengers first”.

Well done @Qantas for putting the safety of passengers first. https://t.co/kgpDK9s4Ag

— Cam (@camliveshere) November 23, 2020

I have never flown with Qantas but I know Australia (esp WA) will protect and guard their country fiercely. I would be happy to have vaccine in order to travel

— Barbara Scully (@barbarascully) November 23, 2020

I flew Qantas once before to Singapore but that was before the Middle East became a great hub. Now it’s just Etihad which I like a lot. I too will take the vaccine.

— Paul O'Connor (@paulshoebox) November 23, 2020

First sensible thing Alan Joyce has said all year

— 💧Shaz H (@ShazHaitch) November 23, 2020

Find another airline or don’t travel, I have no issue with this. I won’t be going to the USA or parts of Europe for quite some time.

— GTKL (@SuburbanKL) November 23, 2020

Some people pointed out certain vaccinations were already required for international travel.

Travellers arriving in Australia from countries at risk of yellow fever, for example, could be asked by border authorities to prove they had been vaccinated against the potentially deadly disease.

Don’t you have to get vaccinated for other viruses before travelling internationally such as Bali or Africa what’s the difference?

— Jarrod Payne (@paynejarrod_6) November 23, 2020

So you think that Qantas is the only airline doing this? Every airline across the world will be doing it. You won't be able to enter countries os with a vaccination certificate. Some countries are asking for $x to cover medical costs as travel insurance won't cover corona.

— samantha hobbs (@sammihobbs) November 23, 2020

The Federal Government has said a COVID-19 vaccine would not be mandatory in Australia but it could become a condition of entry or re-entry to the country.

“While the Australian Government strongly supports immunisation and will run a strong campaign to encourage vaccination, it is not mandatory and individuals may choose not to vaccinate,” the Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy says.

“There may however, be circumstances where the Australian Government and other governments may introduce border entry or re-entry requirements that are conditional on proof of vaccination.”

Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says it is in the final stages of developing a digital health pass that would co-ordinate information about COVID testing and vaccinations to support the reopening of international borders.

The IATA Travel Pass would “manage and verify the secure flow of necessary testing or vaccine information among governments, airlines, laboratories and travellers”, the industry body said.

“Testing is the first key to enable international travel without quarantine measures. The second key is the global information infrastructure needed to securely manage, share and verify test data matched with traveller identities in compliance with border control requirements,” the IATA’s director general and chief executive Alexandre de Juniac said.

IATA’s senior vice president of airport, passenger, cargo and security, Nick Careen, said the main priority was to “get people travelling again safely”.

“In the immediate term that means giving governments confidence that systematic COVID-19 testing can work as a replacement for quarantine requirements. And that will eventually develop into a vaccine program,” he said.

“The IATA Travel Pass is a solution for both.”

What do you think of Alan Joyce’s remarks? Tell us in the comments section below.