TORONTO — Porter Airlines says it plans to introduce a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for its team members to support a safe and healthy workplace for employees and passengers.

The news comes in the wake of the federal government’s Aug. 13 announcement that all employees in federally regulated industries, including airlines, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 31, 2021.

Porter says that, aligning with its Sept. 8 restart of service, team members must be fully vaccinated or present a negative COVID-19 test administered within 72 hours of the start of their shift.

Porter is the first Canadian airline committed to introducing these safety measures, and says its policy may evolve once specific requirements from the government are known.

“We have a responsibility to ensure a safe workplace. With vaccines readily available for everyone in Canada and the U.S., and their proven effectiveness, requiring vaccination or regular testing is a critical measure to protect the health of our team members,” said Michael Deluce, president and CEO, Porter Airlines.

“We are providing a testing option to ensure that personal circumstances are accommodated.”

Deluce adds that Porter’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for its team members “is another layer of reassurance for our passengers. In addition to our Healthy Flights program, now every team member passengers come in contact with will either be fully vaccinated or recently tested. Working and flying with Porter will be a safer experience for everyone.”

Also announced Aug. 13, the federal government will also require all air, interprovincial rail and cruise ship passengers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. That requirement will come into effect by the end of October. Porter says it supports that requirement as well.