American Airlines Delays the Implementation of Vaccine Mandate to January 2022

American Airlines delays the implementation of its vaccine mandate. American Airlines announced that staff can get vaccinated until January 4, 2022.  This comes a few hours after the Biden administration postponed the executive order’s deadline for federal contractors.

Initially, the old deadline was on December 8. To meet the deadline set by the federal government, American Airlines initially wanted more than 100,000 employees to complete their COVID19 vaccine doses by November 24.

American Airlines Delays the Implementation of the Vaccine Mandate

American Airlines executives wrote a memo for their employees. According to American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and president Robert Isom “Given this development, all US team members and Latin  America-based crew members have until Jan. 4, 2022, to submit proof of vaccination or a request for accommodation”.

Aside from delaying the implementation of its vaccine mandate, American is also extending its offer of an extra vacation day and $50 worth of incentive for vaccinated employees until January 4.

Southwest Airlines is likely going to follow American Airlines’ move.

Both Southwest and American Airlines experienced some resistance from its pilots’ union and other employees against the vaccine mandate. Airline executives from both airlines urged workers to apply for an exemption to meet the vaccination deadline. The initial deadline fell a day before Thanksgiving. However, executives said that they did not expect the vaccine mandate to negatively affect holiday travel. But with the new deadline, this gives airlines more time to comply.

The union representing American Airlines pilots reached out to President Joe Biden and lawmakers warning them about possible labor shortages and flight disruptions. The union wanted an alternative to the mandate such as regular COVID19 testing. Allied Pilots Association spokesperson Dennis Tajer said that “We’re pleased to see there’s more time to grapple with this pretty consequential executive order”.

However, Tajer also said that the union is still requesting that the administration consider regular testing as an alternative.