The state airline Aeroflot is tightening its pace with flight personnel who do not want to be vaccinated. The first pilots were therefore suspended from duty, which a company spokesman confirmed.

The Aeroflot media office in Moscow did not know exactly how many pilots are involved. But it was confirmed that there are at least six pilots who do not want to be vaccinated. The company management suspended them from work without pay. The measure should be maintained until they can be vaccinated free of charge.

The matter is very controversial in Russia, because the pilots' union criticized RBC News that it would be discrimination. As an argument, it is argued that pressure is currently only being exerted on the pilots, while there is still no pressure on the ground staff and flight attendants. It is also pointed out that no other Russian airline has made the Covid vaccination compulsory.

Aeroflot is likely to get backing from the government, which announced a few weeks ago that companies could suspend employees who do not want to be vaccinated without pay. Until they can be vaccinated. In this respect, the pressure is very great.

In the Russian Federation, vaccines that have been developed in their own country are primarily used. These are Sputnik V, EpiVacCorona and CoviVac. Aeroflot stated that around 84 percent of flight personnel are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.