The airline says crew must get the Covid vaccination by 31 August or it will review “future employment”.
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Cathay Pacific has told its aircrew that they must get a Covid vaccination by 31 August or risk losing their jobs.
The airline said staff rostering has become “difficult and complicated” because of a need to segregate vaccinated and non-vaccinated crew.
Cathay Pacific said it could, in the “short-term”, accommodate those employees not able to take the vaccine.
But it said: “We will review the future employment of those who are unable to become vaccinated.”
The carrier added that it would “assess whether they can continue to be employed as aircrew”.
The Hong Kong-based airline said that 90% of its pilots and 65% of its cabin crew have been vaccinated or have appointments to receive the injection.
But it said it was “becoming clear that only fully vaccinated aircrew will be able to return without quarantine from most places”.
It said that in order for Cathay Pacific and the global airline industry to recover, “vaccination is a critical component”.
“After very careful consideration, we have now made the decision that all Hong Kong-based crewmembers must be vaccinated against Covid-19 by 31 August 2021,” it said.
Airlines have taken differing approaches to cabin crew vaccinations. Earlier this week, US carrier United Airlines said that from August only fully vaccinated pilots and cabin crew would be allowed to work on flights to high risk destinations.
It would apply to flights operating in countries such as India, Brazil and Chile.
United Airlines, as well as US rival Delta, are requiring that all new recruits joining from 15 June are fully vaccinated against Covid.