On Sunday, Ryanair and its operating subsidiary Lauda Europe again refused to allow numerous passengers to board flight FR500 from Vienna to Palma de Mallorca. As on Friday, it was again claimed that RNA-PCR laboratory tests in Spain did not allow entry and insisted on RT-PCR results.

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Aviation Direct that RNA-PCR laboratory tests issued in the European Union are eligible for entry, provided they have not passed the "expiry date". RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, TMA and other molecular biological methods, including RNA-PCR, are recognized. Results of rapid tests and other test methods that are not uniformly standardized in the EU do not allow entry. Furthermore, reference was made to the unmistakable descriptions on the homepages of the Ministry of Health and on the official homepage, on which the entry registration must be made.

"The required SARS-CoV-2 AIDT will be the PCR (COVID-19 RT-PCR) and other molecular viral RNA detection techniques with equivalent reliability for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. In this regard, Transcription-Mediated Amplification (TMA) and Reverse Transcriptase LoopMediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP) tests are also accepted. Other diagnostic tests such as rapid serology tests, rapid antigen detection tests or high performance serological tests (ELISA, CLIA, ECLIA) will not be admissible, as long as their harmonized use is not accepted across the European Union ”, writes the Spanish Ministry of Health in an official FAQ available at this link can be downloaded.

On the official page, on which the mandatory entry registration must be made, it is also expressly stated that not only RT-PCR will be accepted: Coronavirus from a high-risk country, a certificate with a NEGATIVE AIDT result (RT-PCR or other molecular techniques for the detection of viral RNA with equivalent reliability, such as TMA, RT-LAMP) carried out in the 72 hours before your trip. Children under 6 years of age do not need to present this test. At the following link you can consult the countries / areas that are considered risky ”. This information can be found both here as well as most here on the official website of the authorities.

30 travelers were already left sitting on Friday

Already on Friday Ryanair and Lauda Europe refused to board 30 passengers because they could not present the RT-PCR test required by the carrier, but had an RNA-PCR result - Aviation.Direct reported.

A spokesman for Flughafen Wien AG told the free newspaper Heute about the incident on Friday: “The airport and the airline must adhere to the requirements of the respective country, which can also be found on the airline's website. In the specific case, the airline was also consulted again on site in this regard ”. Ryanair emphasized to Aviation Direct that everything had been done correctly and that they had "accommodating" waived the EUR 300 rebooking fee.

However, it is unclear why the "diagnostic problems" have only occurred at Ryanair or Lauda Europe since last Friday. As mentioned at the beginning: The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that entry with RNA-PCR results is permitted. On the official homepages, RT-PCR, TMA and RT-LAMP are only given as examples, but it should be read explicitly that other molecular biological methods are also permitted.

Allegedly fistfights at Vienna Airport

Before the flight FR 320 from Vienna to Palma operated by Lauda Europe on Sunday with the Airbus A9 with the identification 500H-LOP, the situation is said to have escalated this time. The Mallorca Magazin reports that there were "fistfights and outbursts of desperation". It is also written that this time 300 euros should have been requested for rebooking to another day.

Ryanair and Lauda Europe have denied boarding to all passengers with negative RNA-PCR results. According to the Spanish authorities, these would have been valid for entry. Ryanair insisted in a statement on the apron on Friday that these were not valid. The group said: “Ryanair fully complies with government restrictions. A number of passengers on this flight from Vienna to Palma de Mallorca (February 5) were refused boarding because they did not present a negative Covid-19-RT-PCR / TMA / RT-LAMP test result, as required by Spanish government regulation As a token of goodwill, the flight change fee was waived and all passengers who still wanted to travel were rebooked on the next available flight. As the travel restrictions are updated regularly, Ryanair urges all passengers to check for the latest travel updates on the Ryanair.com website and with the relevant authorities before their flight ”.

Spain's NOTAM B7863 / 20 allows RNA-PCR

However, the official instructions to pilots and airlines should be known to both Vienna Airport and Ryanair and Lauda Europe. In the NOTAM B7863 / 20 shown below in extracts, which is binding for airlines flying to Spain, can be read:

"(...) PASSENGERS ARRIVING TO SPAIN FROM A HIGH-RISK COUNTRY / AREA MUST PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF A NEGATIVE SARS-COV-2 TEST (COVID-19 RT-PCR, TMA OR ANY OTHER TEST TYPE BASED ON EQUIVALENT MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES) RESULT, TAKEN WITHIN 72 HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SIX AND FLIGHT CREWS TRAVELING ON. DOCUMENT MAY BE REQUESTED AS PART OF THE DOCUMENTARY CONTROL. IT MUST BE WRITTEN IN SPANISH, ENGLISH, FRENCH OR GERMAN (OTHERWISE, IT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A TRANSLATION INTO SPANISH CARRIED OUT BY AN OFFICIAL BODY) AND MAY BE PRESENTED EITHER IN PAPER OR ELECTRONIC FORMAT. (…) ”

Almost unimportant detail on the side: Obviously, in the cockpit, they waited for the developments at the gate, because the 9H-LOP left Vienna Airport on Sunday around half an hour late. The Airbus A320 operated by Lauda Europe for Ryanair reached Palma around 22 minutes later. The passengers who were not allowed to fly will probably reach their destination much later, because at the moment there are only a few flights a week to Mallorca, all of which are operated by the Ryanair Group.