Should we Expect Mandatory Vaccinations for Travel to Asia?

Air Asia’s Tony Fernandes expects countries in Asia to demand Covid-19 vaccinations as a requirement for inbound travel. Speaking at a CAPA – Centre for Aviation event, the budget carrier’s chief said these conditions are expected to become a trend across the region.

Fernandes’ comments contrast with earlier remarks by Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, who said Covid-19 vaccinations will be a requirement to board the Australian carrier’s international flights.

The Air Asia CEO argues the onus should instead lie with countries.

“It’s not up to the airlines to decide. It is for governments to decide. It’ll be the country that will decide if they will allow people to come in if they are not vaccinated,” said Fernandes.

While vaccines are pending a wider rollout, airlines have been advocating for pre-flight testing and travel bubbles as an alternative to demand-sapping quarantines. 

Additionally, carriers including Air Asia have unveiled digital passes to streamline health document checks and determine eligibility to travel into a foreign country.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is also in the final stages of developing an industry-standard health pass to support the safe reopening of borders.

Vaccination rollout is beginning in many countries, like the UK, the US, China, Russia, and others, therefore it is normal to expect airlines or governments to ask for vaccination in order to be travelling internationally and considering the recent developments with apps and other tools to track testing and vaccination I think that is the way it will be when boarders around the world fully re-open. 

Written by:   Joe Cusmano