United Airlines’ leadership shared on Thursday that it wants to mandate vaccines for employees amid the pandemic. The Chicago-based carrier is looking for its 60,000 staff members to be protected against coronavirus, which continues to rock the United States and the globe.
A message from the chief
In a town hall meeting, United Airlines CEO spoke about its priorities for its employees amid the global health crisis. Ultimately, he believes that it would be best practice to require vaccines to protect the company’s staff members. Additionally, the businessman encourages other firms to have the same targets.
“The worst thing that I believe I will ever do in my career is the letters that I have written to the surviving family members of coworkers that we have lost to the coronavirus,” Kirby said in the meeting, as reported by CNBC.
“And so, for me, because I have confidence in the safety of the vaccine – and I recognize it’s controversial – I think the right thing to do is for United Airlines, and for other companies, to require the vaccines and to make them mandatory.”
Industry challenges
Airline employees are considered essential workers. So, they are likely to receive the vaccine before many segments of the public.
Nonetheless, not all carriers in the US are taking the exact same approach as United when it comes to vaccines. For instance, American Airlines recently shared that it does not plan to require its staff to receive the vaccine unless they are mandated for entry to specific destinations.
Southwest Airlines shared that it doesn’t currently require its employees to take the vaccine but it encourages it. Delta Air Lines is also encouraging its teams to get vaccinated.
The Association of Flight Attendants shared that its focus is on getting crew members access to vaccines. It is looking for a federal approach that prioritizes flight attendants At the moment, they are in different tiers for access in each state.
Crucial months ahead
Altogether, with many airline employees working on the frontline, protection against the virus would undoubtedly help many team members feel comfortable when working. Additionally, it could help reduce risk to customers across services. Therefore, it’s unsurprising that United Airlines is keen for those working in the company to get vaccinated as the pandemic continues to take its toll on the aviation industry.
Simple Flying reached out to United Airlines for comment on its vaccination requirements. We will update the article with any further announcements from the carrier.
What are your thoughts about United Airlines wanting to make vaccines mandatory for its staff? Do you think this would be a good move by the company? Let us know what you think of the situation in the comment section.
