Southwest Airlines to comply with Biden vaccine mandate by Dec. 8

WASHINGTON, Oct 4 (Reuters) – Southwest Airways stated on Monday it would adjust to a Dec. 8 deadline set by President Joe Biden for its workers to get vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19.

The deadline, set final month below an govt order signed by Biden, covers all federal contractors. Except workers obtain and exemption, they need to comply “to proceed employment with the airline,” Southwest stated.

“Southwest Airways should be part of our business friends in complying with the federal authorities’s COVID-19 vaccination directive,” stated Southwest CEO Gary Kelly.

In an inside memo seen by Reuters, Southwest stated workers should submit vaccination standing and submit documentation by Nov. 24. “When you’re not but totally vaccinated, plan accordingly to fulfill the deadline,” the memo stated.

American Airways stated on Friday it will additionally comply however didn’t specify when it will require vaccinations of workers. Delta Air Strains CEO Ed Bastian stated on Sunday that the corporate has not determined whether or not to mandate COVID-19 vaccines.

The White Home pressed main U.S. airways to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for workers by the deadline for federal contractors to take action. It urged them to comply with the lead of United Airways in requiring pictures.

White Home COVID-19 response coordinator Jeffrey Zients spoke to the chief executives of American Airways, Delta Air Strains and Southwest Airways on Thursday to make sure they had been working expeditiously to develop and implement vaccine necessities forward of that deadline, the sources stated, talking on situation of anonymity.

Giant U.S. airways have a lot of federal contracts. Some airline officers had requested the White Home to push again the necessities till after the busy vacation journey season.

Reporting by David Shepardson; Modifying by Leslie Adler and Grant McCool

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