Singapore Airlines Ltd and Malaysia Airlines said they have mandated Covid-19 vaccinations for pilots and cabin crew, joining a growing number of airlines around the world making it an employment requirement, reports Reuters.

Singapore Airlines said that 99 per cent of active its pilots and cabin crew had been vaccinated ahead of a September 1 deadline, as well as all frontline ground staff. Malaysia Airlines said that all active pilots and cabin crew had received vaccines as had 95pc of Malaysia-based employees under a policy set in July.

“Vaccinations further enhance the protection for them and everyone around them, on top of the stringent measures that have been put in place to minimise their risk of exposure to the Covid-19 virus at work,” Singapore Airlines said in a statement.