A budget airline which serves 11 UK airports has become the first carrier used en masse by British holidaymakers to require flight crews to be vaccinated.

       Wizz Air, a Hungary-based carrier that flies Britons to popular summer destinations including France, Spain, Italy and Greece, announced all crew members and pilots will have to be jabbed against Covid-19 by December.

       Only in “special circumstances” will staff be allowed to take “regular” antigen or PCR tests in place of being vaccinated.

       The airline, which operates flights from Gatwick, Luton, Edinburgh, Belfast, Liverpool and other major UK cities said the compulsory measure will ensure the “smooth and continued operations of its flights in the long term”.

       Jozsef Varadi, the Wizz Air Group chief executive, said: “At Wizz Air, our number one priority is the health and safety of our passengers and employees.

       “We have a responsibility to protect crew and passengers on board by mitigating the risks of Covid-19, and vaccines play a vital role in this.”

       Wizz Air has become the latest airline to make vaccinations mandatory for its staff with Qantar and Virgin Australia introducing similar proposals for their staff in recent months.

       Earlier this week, Virgin Australia confirmed it had proposed requiring front-line, customer-facing employees to have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine by Nov 15.

       However, office staff would have until the end of March next year as many are still working from home.

       Australia’s second biggest airline is currently consulting unions and workers before announcing its final policy.

       Jayne Hrdlicka, the CEO for the airline, said: “It is clear that vaccination is the only way back to normal freedom of movement and the richness in life that comes from spending meaningful, in-person time with family, friends and colleagues.”

       In June, Cathay Pacific had told aircrew they must receive a Covid-19 vaccine by Aug 31 or risk losing their jobs.

       The Hong Kong based airline said they could, in the “short-term”, accommodate those employees not able to take the vaccine.

       But it will, however, “review the future employment of those who are unable to become vaccinated”.