Air New Zealand will require COVID vaccination for international passengers

Air New Zealand is joining more and more airlines in requiring passengers traveling anywhere on its international network to be fully vaccinated. The requirement comes into effect from February 1, 2022. Air New Zealand’s Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran said "being vaccinated against COVID-19 is the new reality of international travel – many of the destinations Kiwis want to visit are already closed to unvaccinated visitors. The quicker we get vaccinated, the sooner we can fly Kiwis to places like New York, Vancouver, and Narita. “We’ve been hearing from both customers and employees that this measure is important to them. It came through loud and clear in our recent consultation process with employees and we want to do everything we can to protect them. Mandating vaccination on our international flights will give both customers and employees the peace of mind that everyone onboard meets the same health requirements as they do.” READ: Qatar gets green light for UK flights READ: New technology tracking of MH370 to start.  "These requirements will sit alongside the measures the airline already has to keep New Zealand safe. It’s not just customers who will be required to be vaccinated – it’s everyone on board an Air New Zealand aircraft traveling internationally, adding to the health and safety measures we already have in place. Another tool in our toolbox. “As with anything, there will be some that disagree. However, we know this is the right thing to do to protect our people, our customers, and the wider New Zealand community. We’ll spend the next few months making sure we get this right, ensuring it works as smoothly as possible for our customers. This also gives anyone wanting to travel from next year plenty of time to get their vaccination. “To take some of the friction out of the travel experience and to help our customers know exactly what they need to travel before even getting to the airport, we’re continuing to work on rolling out the International Air Transport Associations (IATA) Travel Pass app.” The airline continues to work closely with the Government and airport groups on the Reconnecting New Zealanders plan. Air New Zealand’s vaccination requirement will apply to all passengers aged 18 and older arriving or departing New Zealand on an Air New Zealand aircraft. Customers who are not vaccinated will be required to present proof that vaccination was not a viable option for them for medical reasons. Using Timatic, the IATA Travel Pass will check customers’ health information against flight details to ensure they are meeting entry requirements for that destination, and the airline.