According to a memo from Alaska Airlines, Wednesday was the day that Alaska Airlines informed employees it would consider making Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory for its employees. This was according to CNBC.This policy change would make United Airlines, based in Seattle, the latest airline to mandate vaccinations for its employees. United Airlines became the first major U.S. airline to require vaccinations for its employees on Friday. Since then, Hawaiian Airlines and Frontier Airlines have issued similar requirements.Alaska, with approximately 20,000 employees, stated that if it decides to mandate vaccines, it would only do so after the Food and Drug Administration has given full approval for one of the currently available vaccines under emergency approval.Recently, airline executives raised concerns about Covid's rapid-growing delta variant. Southwest Airlines earlier Wednesday reduced its revenue and profit outlook. It blamed the spread of Covid's variant on weaker bookings, and higher cancellations.American, Delta and Southwest have all encouraged employees to get vaccinated but not required them.Alaska informed employees that they have a duty as employers to keep their employees safe. "Given the contagiousness of the COVID-19 virus, and the health risks associated with it, we are within our right to make this determination and to request information about your vaccination status," Alaska stated to employees. Alaska stated that exceptions would be made for medical or religious reasons, as with other companies.
