Qantas to drop vaccination requirements for international passengers

A spokesman for Australia’s national airline Qantas announces that they will lift the coronavirus vaccination requirement for all passengers as of July 19, permitting unvaccinated passengers to board Qantas flights. The decision was based on the latest health advice from the government, but the company still requires employees to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, a Qantas spokeswoman urges passengers to check the entry requirements of the countries they will travel in advance, as some countries still have vaccine mandates. Additionally, masks will continue to be required according to government regulations, including on domestic flights in Australia.

Qantas’ reputation has taken a nosedive since the coronavirus outbreak, with thousands of employees, from cabin crew to ground staff, losing their jobs due to cost-cutting measures despite a $2 billion government rescue package. As a result, the company was questioned and criticized for accepting government funding on the one hand and laying off a large number of employees on the other.

In addition, Qantas has come under pressure from criticism from passengers, who claim they have not received refunds from Qantas after cancelling flights for weeks and months.