Philippines AirAsia is securing more than 1,500 Covid-19 vaccines for its frontline crew and staff. Pilots, cabin crew, and ground crew will be given priority as they are the most exposed to passengers. This is also a huge step forward towards rebuilding confidence in air travel. Hopefully, an AirAsia flight packed with vaccinated crew and passengers would become a reality soon.
According to AirAsia, they partnered with different government agencies and private entities in order to secure the initial doses of the vaccines. No particular brand has been mentioned whatsoever. Oh well, what matters most are the vaccines, regardless of brand.
Fortunately, around 92% of the airline crew and staff have expressed their willingness to take the jab. AirAsia Philippines also has an ongoing internal campaign to convince more employees to take the vaccine.
AirAsia Philippines CEO takes the vaccine
Last April 15, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Ricky Isla, took his first dose of vaccine administered by a government health official. The chief executive believes that taking the vaccine is our own little share of putting this pandemic to an end.
As an industry leader, we must help bring the accurate information to the public, especially our employees, so that they may be able to make an informed choice and the best decision of protecting themselves against COVID-19. It takes everyone to break the COVID-19 chain. I took the shot that is readily available because I believe that it’s our little share of putting an end to this pandemic. It is our responsibility to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and most importantly the people we serve. AirAsia recognizes that the aviation sector plays a critical role as economic and tourism drivers, and we know that getting the COVID-19 vaccine is the next necessary phase of recovery.”
Ricky Isla, AirAsia Philippines CEO
Towards healthier and safer flights
AirAsia Philippines continues to adopt ways and means in order to rebuild confidence in air travel. Aside from different promos, the airline continues to innovate in terms of its safety and health protocols. Going towards the digital and a more contactless set of procedures, AirAsia looks into adopting a platform developed by the IATA. This platform is called the IATA Digital Travel Pass. This allows governments to validate and authenticate all country regulations regarding COVID-19 passenger travel requirements. This digital travel pass will greatly help in the reopening of boarders by having accurate information on a passenger’s health status. AirAsia has an ongoing regional integration for all Airlines Operation Center following the IATA Digital Pass.
Hopefully, this new platform will be of great benefit to the airline, the local government units, and the passengers. What we need now is definitely a more streamlined, hassle-free, and paperless way of processing and verifying requirements. A system that will enable swift coordination among LGUs, transport regulators, airline companies, molecular laboratories and health authorities will help in reopening air travel once again.
It is good that AirAsia continues to push the envelope in order to reopen and build air travel demand. With all that the airline is doing by giving promos and innovating all safety measures, achieving “pre-pandemic” demand hopefully would not be so far.
With all these, will you fly more often with AirAsia? Share us your thoughts.
