Etihad, world's first airline to vaccinate 100% of its crew

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) airline Etihad said in an official statement that it has vaccinated its entire crew in order to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the current global health crisis and also to reassure passengers who choose to travel with the Emirate airline.

Already in January 2021, Etihad was awarded Diamond Class for achieving the highest hygiene standards, according to the Apex Health and Safety audit, which is being conducted for the first time with the support of marketing company SimpliFlying, as reported by Al-Ain News. 

Tony Douglas, CEO of Etihad Aviation Group, said of this important step by the company: "We have proactively provided the vaccine to all our employees not only to help combat the effects of COVID-19, but also to make travellers feel safe and reassured the next time they travel with us. "We are among the only airlines in the world to have made COVID-19 screening mandatory for all passengers and cabin crew before every flight, and we are now the first airline in the world to vaccinate 100% of aircraft crew," Douglas added, as quoted by Al-Ain.

Credit for this achievement goes to Etihad's 'Protected Together' initiative to vaccinate employees, which was officially launched in January this year. This is based on the 'Choose Vaccination' campaign launched by Emirates.

'Together Protected' aims to help employees take proactive and personal steps to achieve immunity to the coronavirus. 

Etihad was one of the first companies in Abu Dhabi's capital to secure positions for its employees under the Emirati vaccination programme. 

Meanwhile, Dr Nadia Bastaki, Etihad Aviation Group's vice president of medical services and social responsibility, said the company has been working "tirelessly" to get its own clinic certified to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. "Since December 2020, we have been providing in-house vaccination appointments for our employees and their loved ones to emphasise our focus on the health of our employees," he added.

Etihad is in line with the UAE as the Arab country is among the world's top performers in terms of COVID-19 vaccination rates, alongside other neighbouring countries such as Bahrain. The UAE has also been characterised by an intense fight against the coronavirus pandemic in terms of research and, above all, in assisting dozens of countries around the world by sending medical supplies and strengthening the logistics for storing and distributing vaccines on a global scale thanks to the Hope Consortium initiative.