Delta Airlines will charge unvaccinated employees $200 a month. The airline’s top executive said it is essential as the hospital expenses for the treatment of coronavirus costs the airline $50,000. CEO Ed Bastian said that the employees who have been hospitalised for the Covis-19 were not fully vaccinated.

The airline also said that it would not increase pay protection to unvaccinated workers who caught Covid-19. Delta wants employees to be vaccinated starting September 27 or face termination. However, the $200 monthly surcharge will begin in November. “This surcharge will be important to address the decision not to vaccinate is making for the company,” Bastian said in a memo to employees.

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The surcharge will only apply to employees who don’t get vaccinated and won’t be charged on spouses or dependents, a Delta spokeswoman told. Bastian said that 75 per cent of Delta employees are vaccinated. He said the surge in the covid-19 cases “means we need to get more of our employees vaccinated, and to 100 per cent if possible”.