Australia’s Regional Express Airlines, better known as Rex, has reached its target to have all frontline staff vaccinated against COVID-19 by its November 1, 2021 deadline.
On September 20, 2021, Rex announced that all front-line employees who have constant contact with airline customers would be required to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus by November 1, 2021.
Now, several hundred staff, including flight and cabin crew members and airport personnel across its regional and domestic networks, have been vaccinated. That makes Rex the first airline in Australia to reach the milestone, the carrier noted.
The carrier also reported that 93% of its total staff have either been double vaccinated or have received their first dose.
John Sharp, the deputy chairman of Rex Airlines, said: “Our employees have overwhelmingly supported the introduction of our Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy to ensure the health and safety of our staff, passengers, contractors and visitors.”
He added: “I would like to thank each and every one of our team members for the way in which they have so quickly responded since work on the Policy began in earnest in mid-September. It was fully implemented in just a few weeks and enabled us to meet our vaccination target date of November 1.”
After Australia closed its domestic borders due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, Rex suspended its inter-city Boeing 737 flights. However, the airline is set to resume its domestic network on November 15 with the reinstatement of flights from Melbourne to Sydney and Canberra. Melbourne – Adelaide flights will reopen on November 26, while flights to the Gold Coast from Sydney and Melbourne begin on December 17.