The announcement of the first successful, approved COVID-19 vaccines had the world in an excited state as people slowly began realizing what it meant: Soon, and sooner rather than later, the threat of the overwhelming pandemic would be coming to an end for many people. The excitement was so real that travel sites even reported spikes in people researching airfare and travel destinations. While this doesn't come as a surprise, it did come as somewhat of a surprise to many when they realized that yes - while vaccines will eventually make traveling safe again, it will be a long and lengthy process before many people receive one. With essential workers, healthcare workers, those on the frontlines, and the elderly and high-risk, immune-compromised posed to get the first doses, it may even be years before the entire worldwide population is fully vaccinated.
With that being said, it could also only be months for many people, including those who are younger and less high-risk than others. Depending on the rate at which states and other countries can get the vaccines out and how quickly they can be administered, that timeline could begin to fluctuate. For those who have been vaccinated or are planning to be, though, there are already some changes to travel that will apply to them, and many other travelers, in the near future.
One Airline Has Already Announced A Changed In Travel Restrictions
Qantas Airlines, which has been revered as the safest airline consecutively for years in a row now, has already announced a change to its flight guidelines. The airline announced that in the future, it was very likely that some type of confirmation of a vaccine would be required for future passengers who want to fly with the airline. This would apply to international passengers and, while the details have yet to be worked out, it's the only airline at the time of writing that has announced a strict change in policy.
There have been other hints from airlines, though, such as Delta, whose CEO, Ed Bastion, told TODAY that it wouldn't be a surprise if many other airlines followed in the footsteps of Qantas. The CEO went even further, saying that it may even come down to a requirement from international travel guidelines rather than a guideline instituted by each airline separately. Another way this permanent guideline could come about is by the governments of each country, whereas some leaders would be looking to the future and to the safety of their residents as they announce stricter guidelines when pandemic restrictions are lifted.
Another option for some airlines would be giving passengers the choice between being vaccinated or taking a test prior to flying, with approval based on proof of a negative result. However, not everyone shares the same opinions as General Luis Felipe de Oliveira, the director of Airport Council International, claims that requiring proof of a vaccine could further hurt the airline industry, just as the ongoing pandemic has. As an alternative, he says that negative tests are more conducive to the world's reopening and, with it, the ongoing improvement of air travel.
Future Concerns With Proof Of Vaccines
The fact is that requiring vaccines before travel is not a new thing. Many countries already require proof of vaccines before allowing international travelers, however, with the rise of COVID-19 cases and the controversy that many are witnessing when it comes to getting vaccinated against the virus vs. not, there's been a global wave of concern over whether or not hard and fast rules are the way to go. In the same vein, some airlines are even referencing the issue they've had with face masks, where many passengers became disgruntled and even outwardly angry over the requirements to wear them during the duration of a flight. Some airlines fear that pushing the issue by requiring a vaccine for flying could lead to similar problems with air travel, such as passengers switching airlines or simply not traveling at all due to the necessary requirements.
There's another concern, according to Insider, that those who don't have access to healthcare could be under fire for not being able to provide proof of negative tests or have access to a vaccine. Therefore, the jury is still out as to whether or not air travel will change permanently for every airline in the face of this pandemic coming to an end. With so many uncertainties, the world is hoping for answers within the next year as vaccines continue to be widely available and the world slowly, but surely, becomes a safer place.