Emirates tells cabin crew they must get vaccinated or pay for COVID-19 tests before flights
kduffy@insider.com (Kate Duffy)
Business Insider

* Emirates told staff they must get vaccinated or pay for a COVID-19 test before flying, Reuters reported.

* If cabin crew aren't vaccinated or tested within seven days of a flight, they'll be put on standby duty.

* 60% of Emirates staff have had the first or second dose, or are registered to get the vaccine.

Emirates has told its cabin crew that they must get vaccinated against COVID-19 or pay for a test to prove they're not infected before each flight.

From March 15, any crew members not vaccinated against the virus would have to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR test in the seven days before their flight, Emirates said in an internal email to employees, seen by Reuters.

If cabin crew members didn't get vaccinated or pay for a test, they would be put on standby duty, unless they are exempt, the email said.

Those exceptions are crew members who have registered to take their first dose, are waiting for their second shot, have a valid medical reason, or have recently had COVID-19, Emirates said.

"Certain countries may in the future differentiate the entry criteria between those who have taken the vaccine and those who did not," the airline told its crew members in the email.

"Keeping this in mind, having a vaccinated workforce has become essential not just from a health and safety angle but from an operational one too."

So far, 60% of Emirates' crew has either been fully or partially vaccinated against coronavirus, or is registered to get the vaccine, the email said.

Emirates didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, but a spokesperson told Reuters the policy applied to all employees in the United Arab Emirates.

Etihad Airways announced in February that all of its crew members had received the COVID-19 vaccine - the first airline in the world to reach this milestone.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in January he wanted to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for all employees, and said the airline would be among the first to impose the rule.

Large companies have made it mandatory here.

We probably have one of the most efficient vaccinating systems.

You book ahead, or you can just walk in.

All our employees got both shots.

No restrictions as to age or nationality.

Only requirement is that you are a resident here.

Emirates is my preferred airline, headed to Zim on Monday and couldn’t get workable flights on Emirates, so going Qatar. We’ve flown Emirates several times out of DFW, their ticket agents are the best. Extremely helpful checking firearms. Wife and I have both had all doses of vaccine, hopefully it works as they say. No problem getting the shots.

If you have been vaccinated, is Qatar Airways still requiring a neg PCR test just before flying?

I am hearing all sorts of funny stuff about this bloody Chink virus.

I know several individuals, who have had both shots of the vaccine, from different makers, Chinese, European and American.

Some tested positive afterwards.

Some actually got the virus too!!??

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
If you have been vaccinated, is Qatar Airways still requiring a neg PCR test just before flying?

Yep...still requiring a test.

Yes. Two friends of mine flew on Qatar today bound for South Africa, and they had to provide the negative PCR test. $200 a pop for the standard negative PCR test here in Las Vegas. $400 a pop for the expedited test.

A smart move by Emirates.......

$325.00 for rapid test at DFW, $300.09 in the small town near where we live.

Another reason I’m glad I’m flying Emirates!

I just got the one shot Jannsen vaccination an hour and a half ago. I'm going to make 10 copies of my vaccination card just in case.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
I just got the one shot Jannsen vaccination an hour and a half ago. I'm going to make 10 copies of my vaccination card just in case.

Who the hell is Jannsen?

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
I just got the one shot Jannsen vaccination an hour and a half ago. I'm going to make 10 copies of my vaccination card just in case.

Who the hell is Jannsen?

My paperwork says it's the Janssen Covid -19 Vaccine. I misspelled it above.

The girl giving it to me called it the Pfizer vaccine.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
I just got the one shot Jannsen vaccination an hour and a half ago. I'm going to make 10 copies of my vaccination card just in case.

Who the hell is Jannsen?

My paperwork says it's the Janssen Covid -19 Vaccine. I misspelled it above.

The girl giving it to me called it the Pfizer vaccine.

It’s the JNJ vaccine. Jannsen is their subsidiary.

Mike

Yeah, J&J is the single shot,. Pfizer is two shots, I had the first one last Monday and the second one will be on April 5.

Good to hear! My second shot is Wednesday and hopefully we will be on an Emirates flight the end of May.

have had both my shots for C-19, last one 2.5 weeks ago. Am hoping South Africa changes their PCR test requirement to having had the shot before our May (flying out on the 10th) trip. Flights are with Emirates Air, first time with this carrier.