WASHINGTON/CHICAGO, Oct 21 (Reuters) – Two major U.S.
airlines and the White House said they do not think the Biden
administration’s executive order mandating federal contractors
require employee vaccinations by Dec. 8 will impact holiday
travel or result in employees leaving.
American Airlines and Southwest Airlines
announced earlier this month they would comply https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/southwest-airlines-comply-with-biden-vaccine-mandate-by-dec-8-2021-10-04
with the mandate that employees be vaccinated by Dec. 8 unless
they receive a religious or medical exemption.
Some airlines and industry-watchers had initially feared an
exodus of unvaccinated airline or government employees involved
in travel just before the Christmas season but airlines later
said that would not happen and cited comments from the White
House this week.
Southwest Airlines Chief Executive Gary Kelly said on
Thursday: “We are not on a campaign here to force everybody to
get vaccinated … We want our employees to know that nobody is
going to lose their job on December 9 if we’re not perfectly in
compliance.”
He added: “We’re not going to fire anybody who doesn’t get
vaccinated.” He said the vaccination issue will not disrupt
travel.
White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients on Wednesday
told reporters https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/10/20/press-briefing-by-white-house-covid-19-response-team-and-public-health-officials-62
the vaccine requirements for federal employees and federal
contractors would not impact holiday travel.
“Vaccination requirements will not impact holiday travel,”
Zients said.
Some lawmakers including Senate Majority Leader Chuck
Schumer have raised concerns about the impact on the
Transportation Security Administration and travel.
“The requirements for federal workers and contractors will
not cause…