Rise Air is implementing mandatory vaccination policies for employees and passengers. (Submitted photo/Rise Air)

By larongeNOW

Mandatory vaccination

Northern airline implementing vaccination policies for employees and passengers

Sep 2, 2021 | 5:30 AM

Both passengers and employees of Rise Air will not be allowed to board a company aircraft in the coming months if they are unvaccinated.

The new policy aligns with Government of Canada requirements that all commercial air travellers and employees of federally regulated air, rail and marine transportation sectors need to be vaccinated.

“At Rise Air, we are committed to the health and safety of all our employees and customers,” said CEO, Derek Nice. “Proper safety procedures are currently in place at all our terminals, including mandatory masking, temperature checks, physical distancing, and increased sanitation protocols. The recent spike in cases, particularly in the North, is concerning and we need to do our part to decrease the risk. Our vaccination policy will serve as a strong tool in our fight against this virus.”

As the sole provider of scheduled flights in and out of the remote communities of Northern Saskatchewan, Rise Air acknowledged that the requirements will heavily impact the isolated residents of the Athabasca region and other communities, but they will work closely with health services to ensure a smooth transition.

“With the growing COVID-19 cases and particularly the Delta variant, the consideration of the COVID-19 vaccine is imperative,” said Allan Adam, CEO of Athabasca Health Authority (AHA). “We have the capacity for COVID-19 rapid testing, PCR and/or GeneXpert testing, and COVID-19 vaccines in all of the AHA facilities. We support Rise Air with their vaccination policies and encourage their employees and travellers to contact one of our facilities to make their appointments. We all have the responsibility to promote community health and safety.”

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According to the AHA, as of Aug. 30, only 31 per cent of individuals in the health region had been fully vaccinated.

Rise Air told larongeNOW they are still waiting for guidance from the federal government on how passengers can show proof of their vaccinations in order to board an aircraft. If employees fail to comply with the regulations, they could lose their jobs. Rise Air said it would accommodate employees on a case-by-case basis who can’t be vaccinated for valid medical or religious reasons.

Both policies for employees and passengers come into effect Oct. 31, 2021.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @larongeNOW