An Etihad Airways pilot receives a Covid-19 vaccination.
Etihad Airways has become the first airline in the world to vaccinate all air crews on board its entire fleet.
In January the airline was awarded Diamond status in the inaugural APEX Health Safety SimpliFlying audit for high standards of cleanliness and sanitation. And the United Arab Emirates’ flag carrier has now announced that it has vaccinated 100% of its operating pilots and cabin crew.
According to Etihad Aviation Group boss Tony Douglas, the carrier has made sure the national vaccine programme is available to all employees not only to help combat Covid-19, but also to ensure traveller confidence.
“We’re the only airline in the world to make Covid-19 testing mandatory for every passenger and crew member before every flight,” said Douglas. “And now we’re the first airline in the world with 100% vaccinated crew on board.”
The vaccination programme was facilitated by Etihad’s ‘Protected Together’ employee vaccination initiative, which was launched in January. Staff have been provided with vaccination information and virtual talks have been arranged to connect them with medical professionals. Mobile clinics have also been set-up to administer the vaccine to employees at work.
The airline facilitated early vaccination access for frontline staff, including pilots and cabin crew, through the UAE’s ‘Emergency Use Programme’.
The Etihad Airways Medical Centre was also put forward as an accredited vaccination clinic. The airline has been able to offer in-house vaccination appointments to employees and their dependents since December 2020.
“I chose very early on to be vaccinated to demonstrate my own support of the national vaccination programme and to encourage everyone at Etihad who was eligible for the vaccine to have it as soon as possible,” said Douglas. “I’d like to thank the entire Etihad family for everything they have done to help up reach this milestone - I am truly humbled.”
The UAE’s target is to vaccinate half of its population by the end of March. Etihad has so far inoculated more than 75% of its entire workforce with at least one dose of the vaccine. The UAE currently has the second highest vaccination rate in the world.
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