Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce has urged Australians to get vaccinated so that “lockdowns will be a thing of the past,” as domestic border closures force the national airline to stand down 2,500 employees for at least two months due to the lack of flying. This comes as state officials direct people in Greater Sydney to stay at home as part of the New South Wales (NSW) state government’s COVID-19 restrictions and its “knock-on border closures” in other states and territories. “The vaccine rollout means the end is in sight, and the concept of lockdowns will be a thing of the past,” Joyce said in a statement on Aug. 3. “Australia just needs more people rolling up their sleeves as more vaccine arrives.” Joyce hopes that high vaccination rates, which the federal government would like to be achieved by Christmas, will get Qantas staff back to work, particularly international crew who have …