Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd has said all Hong Kong-based pilots and flight attendants will need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by August 31 or risk losing their jobs, in one of the airline industry’s toughest policies, reports Reuters.

According to Cathay, it has struggled with staff rostering due to Hong Kong’s strict quarantine rules on return that have been loosened for crew that have been vaccinated. There are also requirements that only fully vaccinated crews can operate to certain high-risk destinations and on quarantine-free “bubble” flights.

Cathay has said 90 per cent of pilots and more than 65 per cent of cabin crew has been vaccinated already, or has appointments for vaccinations, following a previous warning that vaccination was highly likely to become compulsory.