As of Thursday, Austria is extending the landing ban for passenger aircraft to a total of 18 countries. This met with fierce criticism from opposition politician Gerald Loacker (Neos), because in his opinion the ban should be completely ineffective.

“Anyone who wants to travel to Austria will find a way. The flight bans and travel restrictions can easily be circumvented: either the person takes an open jaw flight and apparently comes to us from another country. Or she flies to Bratislava or Munich and then travels there," said Loacker in an initial reaction.

Instead, the Neos health spokesman calls for PCR tests and fever measurements to be carried out at Austrian airports. “The flight ban is also complete nonsense from an economic point of view, because the Republic saved the AUA by 300 million euros and is now turning off part of the business afterwards.” Loacker therefore demands “that the government stop planning travel opportunities in its lack of planning generally restrict and instead finally force fever measurements and PCR tests at the airport".