Half the number of employees of local airlines have already been vaccinated against COVID-19.
But the airlines also admitted that the supply of vaccines for their frontliners was limited, so they asked for help from local government units.
Ever since the government announced that it would facilitate travel for the fully vaccinated, the number of those who book flights has skyrocketed, so airlines have to catch up.
“‘Yong availability rin ng vaccines, nakadepende rin doon, but we’re looking towards at least [the] fourth quarter of 2021, ‘yong buong aviation workforce,” said AirAsia Philippines Spokesperson Steve Dailisan.
Five flight destinations now accept vaccination cards instead of requiring a negative RT-PCR test result.
These include Cauayan City in Isabela, Cotabato, Dumaguete, Negros Occidental, and Virac in Catanduanes, according to Cebu Pacific.
But in Dumaguete, it is necessary to pass a negative antigen test result and S-PASS registration.
The S-PASS vaccination card must also be submitted 3 days before the flight for travelers to Virac.
Airlines rushing to vaccinate employees
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is conducting a trial run on the use of an international travel pass, which already states the vaccine and other requirements.
“PAL conducted a successful trial run of the IATA travel pass… the IATA travel pass app allows passengers to upload their passports for digital biometrics and also enables partner and accredited coronavirus testing centers to upload laboratory test results on the app,” said PAL Spokesperson Cielo Villaluna.
“However, the Philippines must officially adopt the IATA’s Travel Pass. This will set things in motion,” Villaluna added.
But even if the passenger is fully vaccinated, even the flight crew still needs to wear a face mask and shield, based on international standards.
Meanwhile, Indonesia has been added to the countries where the Philippines has implemented a travel ban due to their increasing cases of COVID-19 in recent days.
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a 14 -day travel ban for Indonesia with a travel history in the said country.
According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the travel ban will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on July 16, 2021, and will end at 11:59 p.m. on July 31, 2021.
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