Reuters - Air New Zealand, the flag carrier airline of New Zealand, said on Sunday it would require passengers on its international flights to be fully vaccinated against COVID – 19 in what is one of the strictest policies for travellers.
Vaccination against COVID- 19 is the new reality of international travel, many destinations Kiwis want to visit are already closed for unvaccinated visitors, Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran said in a statement.
New Zealand plans to reopen its international borders, which have been closed since March 2020 to anyone who is not a NZ citizen, early next year. Air New Zealand will implement vaccination policy from 1 March, the airline said.
As with anything, there will be some who disagree, said Foran. In September, Qantas, Australia's largest airline, also said it will require all passengers on international flights to be vaccinated, becoming one of the first airlines in the world to require proof of inoculation for everyone on board.