Singapore national carrier set to become world’s first vaccinated airline

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has confirmed that the Singaporean government has offered members of its crew—including pilots, gate agents, flight attendants and anyone whose job requires contact with the public—coronavirus vaccines.

The national carrier is hoping to become the world’s first airline to get all of its crew members vaccinated against Covid-19. Singapore purchased the Pfizer vaccine, which requires two shots. The country’s response to the pandemic has been largely successful due to border closures and a national contract-tracing app.

Singapore’s Airlines to start vaccinating its staff

According to the airline, 5,200 SIA employees have already signed up to get their shots.

“We are grateful to the Singapore government for making the aviation sector a priority in the country’s vaccination exercise,” the airline’s CEO, Goh Choon Phong, said in a statement that was sent to the whole company.

A much-hyped “travel bubble” with Hong Kong was indefinitely postponed in December when Hong Kong had a spike in virus cases.

“This reflects the sector’s importance, and the crucial role we play in both Singapore’s economic recovery and the fight against the pandemic.” Phong added.

The vaccination will give the Airline’s crew members more freedom from coronavirus related measures

Once the crew members are vaccinated, they will be subject to less scrutiny and less coronavirus-related security measures in different countries. For example, flight crews will no longer be required to be tested after their return to Singapore.

Phong, alongside Singapore’s transport minister Ong Ye Kung, was among the city-state’s first citizens to get vaccinated. He has reportedly received the first of his two shots. He added that “the procedure was painless and fuss-free.”

Citizens of the city-state have expressed an interest in being able to travel again. Singapore has had 59,113 confirmed cases of the virus and only 29 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.