Air New Zealand has issued the following statement:
“We’re getting ready to reconnect with the world and letting customers know what they need to do to be ready to take off when we can,” says Air New Zealand’s Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran.
“Being immunized against COVID-19 is the new reality of overseas travel — many of the places Kiwis want to visit are already closed to unvaccinated visitors.” The sooner we are vaccinated, the sooner Kiwis will be able to go to locations like New York, Vancouver, and Narita.
“We’ve heard from consumers and workers alike that this metric is essential to them. It came through loud and clear throughout our recent employee consultation process, and we want to do everything we can to safeguard them.
Mandatory immunization on our foreign flights will provide customers and workers with the assurance that everyone onboard satisfies the same health requirements as they do.”
These restrictions will be in addition to the precautions the airline already has in place to keep New Zealand safe.
“Not only will customers be forced to be vaccinated; everyone on board an Air New Zealand aircraft traveling overseas will be required to be vaccinated, adding to the health and safety precautions we now have in place. Another tool in our arsenal.
“As with anything, some people will disagree. However, we are confident that this is the appropriate thing to do in order to protect our employees, customers, and the wider New Zealand community.
We’ll spend the next three months making sure this is done correctly and as smoothly as possible for our clients. This also offers everyone planning to travel in the coming year plenty of time to be vaccinated.
“We are continuing to work on bringing out the International Air Transport Associations (IATA) Travel Pass app to remove some of the friction from the travel experience and to let our clients know exactly what they need to travel before even reaching to the airport.”
On the Reconnecting New Zealanders agenda, the airline continues to collaborate closely with the Government and airport groups.
All passengers aged 18 and over arriving or departing Aotearoa on an Air New Zealand flight will be subject to the vaccination requirement. Customers who have not been vaccinated must provide documentation that vaccination was not a viable choice for them due to medical reasons.
