SWISS introduces mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for crews
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is making vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory for all its flying personnel from November 15, 2021 onwards.
"The action has been taken in response to national entry restrictions worldwide, which are seeing an increasing insistence on proof of such vaccination for air crews, too," reads the SWISS press release.
Hong Kong recently became the first SWISS destination to demand – with immediate effect – proof of COVID-19 vaccination for crews arriving from certain countries, Switzerland included.
"A separate organizational management of vaccinated and unvaccinated crew members and the resulting increased complexity of the rostering involved would make it impossible to ensure continued robust and reliable flight operations in the longer term. Some destinations and regions could no longer be served, and this in turn would seriously diminish the effectiveness of the SWISS hub system," the release continues.
As a global airlines, SWISS wants to treat all crew rostering as equal and perform to its duty of care towards its cockpit and cabin personnel, making it easier if everyone is required to be vaccinated.
“We must initiate this action now if we are to continue to maintain our global route network and fulfil our care obligations towards our employees,” said Dieter Vranckx, SWISS Chief Executive Officer.
In adopting its new vaccination requirement, SWISS is supported by corresponding provisions in the collective labor agreements for its cockpit and its cabin personnel, which provide for such action under such conditions. SWISS is also conducting an open and transparent dialogue with its social partners on the mandate planned.
