Virgin CEO says borders need to open faster, even if ‘some people may die' Jayne Hrdlicka

Title from the Fairfax broadsheet today

“ Virgin CEO says borders need to open faster, even if ‘some people may die’

Not sure why JH is getting into the border discussion unless she thinks the VA international routes to NZ and other pacific island is more profitable than current domestic traffic, or that the international tourist slump is affecting VA’s domestic market target group

Unfortunately the way she is quoted is probably not helping the advocacy for opening borders, and certainly not a great look atm

In contrast, other commentators are framing it as “influenza in 2019 kills almost much people (800) as COVID-19 in 2020 (900) but we didn’t close borders in 2019” which is not exactly guilt free but put some numbers and risks in perspectives.

1100 died from influenza in 2017.

Any idea why JH is getting into this despite VA Mark 2 not too focused on international route in its first few reboot years, and staying out of the NZ bubble traffic?

(Addit: oh, BTW where possible, please avoid commentary on vaccine rollout/hesitancy, the legality and ethics of travel bans and arrival caps unless it is directly related to why JH is getting into this issue in her CEO capacity, considering it is near impossible to separate it from personal opinion when talking to media)

What a thing to say. If she did say that then maybe we can start with her husband and family first and see how she feels about that.

Seems perfectly logical to me for an airline CEO to get into the border debate. VA's decision to remain a domestic airline is likely influenced by the border situation.

Huh? No one cares when people get any other virus and we live with it. And chances are her husband and family are going be just fine...

And the media spin this in big headlines "Virgin boss says open borders even if people die" without the entire context.

This is what she said

Ms Hrdlicka argued that Australia needed to discuss opening the borders as the vaccine rollout ramped up, according to the university's media unit.

"We can't keep [COVID] out forever," she reportedly said.

"It will make us sick but won't put us into hospital. Some people may die but it will be way smaller than the flu."

What she is saying is that majority of vaccines will roll out and we will never stamp out the virus - so Australia cannot remain a hermit and need to get on with life. Good on her for not tip toeing around the issue and using her voice to raise a good point. When other countries start opening up and the typical Aussie sees they can't get to Bali wait for a majority shift in attitude. Shouldnt let the abled and young who have to work and live lives suffer for a small % of population who will need med assistance or yes, die...just like people die from the flu...and those that die from the flu are usually vulnerable if age or existing sickness.

Oh no I think you missed the point. But you do prove one with your response and the issue that many Australians have with regarding COVID. And if you think I'm holding out for Bali based on my comment above you clearly misinterpreted.

The CEO of Virgin is absolutely correct to raise the issue about international borders. She is simply eluding to the fact that if the governments don't challenge their population, whatever level of vaccination take up there has been, then there will never be open borders. Meaning that the mandatory 14 day quarantine will remain indefinitely. This is and will continue to be enough to put off most from coming to Australia.

Disgusting comments.

Greed and profit over safety 😡😡

Her husband has cancer, and is undergoing chemotherapy to try to fight it. I think she understands what it's like to have a close family member fighting for their life.

Good on her. Finally someone talking sense and looking at it from the angle that we can't stay isolated indefinitely. There will be some collateral, albeit less now with vaccines and better ways of treating the virus.

Well she has a strange way of showing it then

@notff....I think she is just a normal human being trying to live a normal life. If you want to go and lock yourself in a bunker for the rest of life so as not to come into contact with any virus or bacteria, you are free to do so. Nobody is going to stop you or criticize you. But some of us don't want to do that, and won't do that.

Media taken this out of context, and the PM once again being consistent and taking the opportunity to slander a female CEO today.

they are right.I cannot imagine the thought of one being made to holiday in their own state and lets be honest there are even worse diseases that have come and gone around the world.did we shut off when sars and all it's variants took place during the noughties no?and i can think of many other reasons why it should be done.we need more drive in sites to do the vaccines,more gp's,more doctors and more hospitals and no more of this stupid age restrictions of phase 1/2 and 3 bullshit.

We are all going to die, it's life & any of us can go at any minute, yet we accept that risk everyday we get out of bed.

Do we shut ourselves in our rooms covered on bubble wrap, no, we live.

The USA drove the vaccine program & are now looking at normality coming into their summer. Mask free, concerts, international travel....

We are still stuck with our heads in the sand, working out how to wrap ourselves in bubble wrap.

Get the jab so we can mingle with the world again.......

They'll study this one as 'what not to say' in PR school