AirAsia Philippines, a low-cost affiliate of AirAsia, says it has already vaccinated 98% of its frontline employees, including flight and cabin crew members.
Four months into the staff vaccination promotion campaign, 213 out of 217 AirAsia Philippines flight attendants and 106 out of 109 pilots have received a second dose of vaccine against the COVID-19 virus, the airline said. This amounts to 98% of the flight and cabin crew.
Around 92% of the airline’s check-in counter and boarding gate staff have also taken vaccine shots. None of its back-office departments’ employees, as well as ramp agents, are left unvaccinated, according to the airline.
In fact, only 24 workers remain unvaccinated due to health or personal concerns, including pregnant women. According to Ricky Isla, the chief executive officer of AirAsia Philippines, unvaccinated employees will be constantly monitored and encouraged to get their vaccine as soon as “circumstances permit“.
“As a matter of safety given the present high rate of infection, only those who have been vaccinated will be allowed to return to the office, and those who have not yet taken the shot are encouraged to work from home,” Isla is quoted in the airline’s statement.
AirAsia Philippines expects that a full vaccination of airline employees, as well as stringent health and hygiene protocols, will encourage travelers to fly.
“In AirAsia, we believe that having a fully vaccinated workforce will protect our people against COVID-19 as well as safeguard our guests and the communities we fly to,” Isla said.
“The acceleration of vaccines in all of our key markets is setting us up for a strong return to the skies,” AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said. “We’ve always been about the people and it doesn’t just stop with our own employees. With stringent health and hygiene protocols and robust standard operating procedures, guests can be assured of a 360-degree peace of mind when traveling with us again.”