Vaccination mandates: Southwest is the latest airline to require its employees to be fully vaccinated

DALLAS, Texas – Southwest Airlines on Monday became the latest U.S. airline to require its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Dallas-based company said its employees must be fully immunized by December 8 in order to stay with the airline. Employees can request permission to skip injections for medical or religious reasons.

Southwest said it had to mandate vaccines due to the Biden administration’s new rules requiring companies with federal contracts to have staff vaccinated. Southwest’s work for the government includes piloting the military in an emergency and transporting mail for the US Postal Service.

Last week, competitors American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue told their staff they needed to get the shot. United Airlines in August was the first major airline to do so and has since said more than 97% of its employees have been vaccinated. United has also said it will put staff who cannot get vaccinated for medical or religious reasons on unpaid leave until COVID-19 rates drop.

Sud-Ouest has 54,000 employees.

With the announcement, there is now only one major US airline that does not impose shots: Delta.

Instead of a warrant, Delta billed unvaccinated workers an additional $ 200 in health care premiums.

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