In the fight against Covid-19, flight crews have emerged as a significant vulnerability in both Australia and Taiwan.

Countries across the Asia-Pacific have shut their borders and enforced strict quarantine measures, effectively isolating themselves from the rest of the world.

However, many regions have made one major exception: flight crews.

For months, flight crews in several locations, including Taiwan and Australia, have been exempt from the strict quarantine regulations that apply to other international travelers. Yet, breaches of these rules by airline personnel in December have raised concerns about whether these exemptions are posing unnecessary risks to public health.

In response, Taiwan has recently tightened its quarantine measures for flight crews, a move already adopted by two Australian states in December.

It’s a complex dilemma. Health experts argue that the exemptions for flight crews create a loophole in an otherwise strict border policy, while aviation officials contend that such exemptions are necessary to keep the industry running and to protect the mental well-being of flight crews.

What happened in Taiwan and Australia?

When Taiwan confirmed its first local Covid case in over 250 days on December 22, authorities quickly traced the infection to a foreign pilot.

Taiwan’s authorities stated that a New Zealand pilot in his 60s passed the virus to a woman in her 30s after completing his mandatory three-day quarantine. The pilot was fined for failing to fully disclose his contact history and was subsequently dismissed by his airline, according to Taiwanese state media CNA.

Although Taiwan reported its first Covid case in January, it avoided a major outbreak. By enforcing strict border measures—closing to almost all non-residents in March and requiring a 14-day home quarantine for international arrivals—the island kept its case count to just over 800 with only seven deaths.

Flight crews were the exception to Taiwan's previous quarantine rules. Pilots only had to quarantine for three days, while flight attendants faced five days due to their higher levels of close interaction with passengers. However, starting January 1, the new rules require all crew members to undergo a seven-day quarantine after long-haul flights and to test negative before they are allowed to leave, as announced by Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control on December 28.

Other regions, including Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Australia, also exempted flight crews from their otherwise stringent border measures.

Australia’s quarantine rules varied by state. In New South Wales, local flight crews were previously allowed to quarantine at home instead of in government-mandated hotel facilities. In contrast, international crews were required to quarantine in one of 25 designated hotels until their next flight, though they were not subject to the same level of monitoring as other incoming travelers.

Although Australia’s approach was strict by global standards, it was still much more lenient compared to the mandatory two-week hotel quarantine that other international travelers had to endure at their own expense.

However, a series of incidents in December raised concerns about the efficacy of these exemptions. One such case involved a Sydney van driver who tested positive after transporting international flight crews at the beginning of the month.

New South Wales now mandates that international flight crews quarantine at two specific airport hotels, where they are closely monitored by health officials and police. While crews based in New South Wales still need to test negative before departure, they are allowed to self-isolate at home.

In December, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian emphasized the risk involved in allowing international travel, stating, "We’ve always known this is a huge risk, but it’s a risk we accept because we want Australians to return home and we want to keep freight moving." She noted that the real issue lies in the violation of quarantine guidelines, not the guidelines themselves, adding, "We can’t afford to take that risk."

Why are flight crews treated differently?

Despite stricter measures in both Australia and Taiwan, flight crews continue to be treated more leniently than other travelers. In many regions, some crew members still aren’t required to quarantine at all.

For example, in New Zealand, most air crews are exempt from the mandatory 14-day government-run quarantine, citing the importance of maintaining international air travel. In Hong Kong, flight crews who haven’t been to high-risk areas like the US or the UK can test on arrival and, if they test negative, are free to leave—much more relaxed than the three-week hotel quarantine at their own expense that other international travelers must endure.

One reason flight crews have been granted more lenient quarantine rules is their critical role in keeping economies operational and supply chains intact. As the Hong Kong government explained, "The exemption is vital for maintaining essential operations and ensuring an uninterrupted supply of daily necessities to the public."

Albert Tjoeng, a spokesperson for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), representing 290 airlines, highlighted that flight crews differ from regular travelers. They make frequent trips, don’t quarantine with the goal of reaching a destination, and are well aware of the risks involved. As Tjoeng noted, "Aircrews are acutely aware of the vulnerability of their livelihoods to any lapses in infection control."

The exemptions were also motivated by concern for the mental health of flight crews. Unlike ordinary travelers who might take a single trip home, crews fly internationally often, which means they can spend extended periods effectively in quarantine.

This has been the case for a China Airlines captain based in Taiwan, who estimates he has spent about 50 days in quarantine this year. He flies between Taipei and Sydney roughly once a month, and each time, he must quarantine for three days at both ends of the journey.

The captain, who wishes to remain anonymous due to company restrictions, has managed to cope with the quarantine but raised concerns about its impact on mental health and the ability to be with family and care for children. Furthermore, the days he spends in quarantine are unpaid.

"I don’t believe society, the company, or even the Taiwanese CDC really care about our mental well-being. They only focus on public health, and they don’t consider this aspect of our situation," he said.

Should quarantine rules be more stringent?

Health experts warn that these exemptions may create a loophole, potentially allowing the virus to infiltrate areas that have otherwise managed to keep it under control.

"It seems to me that the risk of airline crew contracting the virus is no lower than that of an arriving passenger," said Mike Toole, an epidemiologist at the Burnet Institute, speaking to Australian broadcaster ABC in December. "It’s a possible gap in the system, and that’s something we can’t afford."

Hong Kong, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Australia have all been relatively successful in containing their Covid outbreaks, largely thanks to their strict border measures.

IATA has urged governments to exempt flight crews who don’t interact with the public from quarantine rules, in order to keep cargo supply chains functioning. Back in March, the association’s director-general and CEO stated that disruptions to global supply chains "are endangering lives."

"Air cargo is a crucial ally in the global battle against Covid-19," said Alexandre de Juniac.

IATA’s Tjoeng acknowledged that the strict quarantine measures "certainly create challenges for aircrews operating into those destinations."

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized UN agency, has also advocated for governments to exempt cargo flight crews from quarantine requirements.

"It’s crucial to safeguard the global air cargo supply chain and ensure the availability of essential medications and equipment like ventilators, masks, and other health supplies that are necessary to help curb the spread of Covid-19," said ICAO Secretary General Fang Liu in March.

The China Airlines pilot acknowledges Taiwan’s decision to extend quarantine requirements to reassure the public, but he believes the rules should be applied consistently.

Under the new guidelines, pilots who have completed three days of their seven-day quarantine can resume long-haul flights, while flight attendants must quarantine for five days before returning to work, as reported by CNA. For the China Airlines pilot, this seems to create a risk of potentially infecting colleagues or being exposed to the virus himself—something he has been concerned about throughout the pandemic.

"They don’t want us mingling with the public or society, and they’re worried about us spreading the virus. But it seems that if I were to infect a colleague, that’s somehow acceptable," he said.