A Qatar Airways aircraft takes off from Hamad International Airport in Doha on July 20, 2017.
STRINGER | AFP | Getty Images
The CEO of a flagship Middle Eastern airline said the demand for Covid-19 vaccinations is likely to be a trend in air travel as the industry tries to recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
“In the short term, yes, I think the vaccination record will be helpful in giving both governments and passengers in our industry the confidence to travel again,” said Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways Group, on Tuesday across from CNBC’s Hadley Gamble.
When asked if vaccinations will become a “necessity” for flying, Al Baker said, “I think this will be the trend first because the world needs to open up to people who need to trust air travel.”
“I think this will be a trend that will continue until people are sure that there is an adequate cure or treatment for this very serious pandemic that we are facing today,” he added.
The conversation took place in connection with the start of Qatar Airways’ first flight fully vaccinated with Covid-19, an A350-1000. Only passengers and crew members who have been vaccinated against the virus that turned the world economy upside down and bankrupted so many airlines in the past year will be carried.
